President Trump
Donald John TrumpFive takeaways from Cruz, O'Rourke's debate showdown Arpaio files libel suit against New York Times IMF's Christine Lagarde delays trip to Middle East MORE’s comments about the 2013 government shutdown during the Obama administration have resurfaced as the federal government races toward a shutdown of its own.
Trump spoke to “Fox & Friends” in 2013 and was asked who would be fired during a government shutdown, as shown in a clip posted by "Morning Joe."
“Well, if you say who gets fired it always has to be the top,” Trump said. “I mean, problems start from the top and they have to get solved from the top and the president’s the leader. And he’s got to get everybody in a room and he’s got to lead.”
He said that further down in history, “when they talk about the government shutdown, they’re going to be talking about the president of the United States, who the president was at that time.”
“They’re not going to be talking about who was the head of the House, the head the Senate, who’s running things in Washington,” Trump said.
“So I really think the pressure is on the president,” he added.
Trump has said he will blame Democrats for a possible government shutdown, saying on Thursday that “it’s up to the Democrats.”
Government funding is set to run out at midnight on Friday.
Trump has invited Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer
Charles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerMcConnell says deficits 'not a Republican problem' Medicare for All is disastrous for American seniors and taxpayers Senate Dems race to save Menendez in deep-blue New Jersey MORE (D-N.Y.) to the White House to try and strike a deal over government spending.
Trump’s past tweets about the 2013 shutdown have also resurfaced in recent days, including one where he said Republicans “should not be afraid of a government shutdown.”
.@RNC leadership should not be afraid of a government shutdown. They should be afraid of not defunding ObamaCare.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 18, 2013
Congratulations to @SpeakerBoehner on standing strong and tying government shutdown to defunding ObamaCare.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 20, 2013
No one wants the government to shut down, but if ObamaCare is fully implemented then our country will eventually shutdown anyway!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2013
It is crucial for Republicans to remain united during this shutdown
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 1, 2013
