Conservative talk radio giant Rush Limbaugh bemoaned what he said is President Trump’s apparent retreat in negotiations with Democrats to avoid a partial government shutdown.
On his show Tuesday, Limbaugh said if Trump abandons his request for funds to begin construction on his promised border “wall” in order to secure continued funding to keep the full federal government running, Democrats will use the same tactic in future negotiations.
“But the problem here, folks, is one of politics,” he said. “If this happens, if Trump does — and I use the word ‘cave’ guardedly. Trump, I’m sure, does not ever think he caves on anything. But outward appearances are what they are. And the bottom line is that if he is willing to withdraw a demand of his for a measly billion dollars for the wall because the Democrats are threatening a shutdown then the Democrats will have just learned that this threat works on Trump, too, not just all the other Republicans.”
Trump had previously said he wanted a budget bill from Congress that included some money to fund the wall but at the start of this week, he indicated that may not be a firm requirement to earn his signature.
Democratic leaders have maintained they will not vote to pass any legislation that includes funding for the wall and Republicans are hoping to avoid a partial shutdown, fearing that they will receive the blame.
The deadline to pass a bill to keep the government fully open is Friday. Asked in an interview published online Monday whether he would sign a bill that doesn’t include border funding, Trump said, “I don’t know yet.”
