President Donald Trump has zeroed in on a critical error by Democrats during the ongoing government shutdown, calling it a tactical blunder with lasting consequences.
As reported by Fox Business, Trump, in an interview with Maria Bartiromo on "Sunday Morning Futures" airing this upcoming Sunday at 10 a.m. ET, asserted that Democrats failed to anticipate how the shutdown would empower him to slash programs long opposed by Republicans.
His comments point to a deeper frustration with Democratic leadership, particularly Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, whom Trump described as politically weakened and desperate for relevance.
Trump wasted no time using the shutdown as leverage, announcing the permanent termination of programs he labeled as unnecessary giveaways and welfare initiatives. He suggested Democrats handed him the authority to make these cuts, a move he believes they never saw coming.
Among the casualties is a $20 billion Gateway Project, a train tunnel under the Hudson River linking New Jersey and New York, which Trump declared "pretty much dead right now." Schumer, who fought for this project over 15 years, now faces the fallout of its cancellation.
The administration also froze billions for the extension of New York City's Second Avenue Subway, signaling a broader strategy to dismantle long-standing Democratic priorities during the shutdown's early hours.
Trump didn’t hold back on Schumer, stating, "Chuck is, you know, at the end of the line. He's being beaten by everybody that they poll against him," during the Bartiromo interview. Such a sharp critique paints Schumer as a leader out of touch, clinging to relevance at his party's expense.
While Schumer may have made strategic moves in the past, Trump argued that history isn’t saving him now, especially as internal party pressure mounts. The shutdown, in Trump's view, exposes Schumer's inability to navigate this crisis effectively.
Bartiromo pressed Trump on whether the shutdown ties to the upcoming "No Kings" rally, to which he dismissed any connection, rejecting the notion that he’s being framed as a monarch. He countered that Schumer’s posturing is merely a feeble attempt to appear defiant.
Amid the domestic deadlock, Trump also turned attention to international challenges, revealing on Truth Social a hostile trade stance from China with export controls set for November 1, 2025. In response, he pledged a 100% tariff on Chinese goods over existing rates, a move that could push average U.S. tariffs on their exports to around 157%, per the Peterson Institute for International Economics.
Addressing Bartiromo, Trump admitted, "It’s not sustainable, but that’s what the number is," acknowledging the economic strain while blaming China for forcing his hand. He emphasized the need for fairness in trade, insisting that adversaries respect only strength.
Looking ahead, Trump noted a planned meeting in South Korea with Chinese President Xi Jinping and others in a couple of weeks. He remains hopeful for a balanced deal, though his tone suggests skepticism about China’s willingness to play fair.
The government shutdown, as Trump frames it, isn’t just a political standoff but a rare chance to reshape federal spending in ways Republicans have long desired. Democrats, caught off guard by their own strategy, now watch as projects and programs they championed crumble under executive cuts.
Meanwhile, the looming trade war with China adds another layer of uncertainty, with tariffs poised to jolt markets if tensions don’t ease. Trump’s resolve to stand firm, both at home and abroad, signals a refusal to bend under pressure.
Ultimately, this shutdown could redefine political and economic landscapes, with Democrats scrambling to regain footing and Schumer facing an uphill battle for credibility. Trump’s calculated moves, whether on budget cuts or trade, position him as a leader seizing every opening, leaving opponents to grapple with the consequences.
