Government shutdown: Trump hits out at Democrats for rejecting offer of 'compromise' over Mexico border wall

Donald Trump announces plan to 'end government shutdown' involving border wall funding

Donald Trump lashed out at the Democrats after they rejected his so-called “compromise” proposal to end the US government shutdown and secure $5.7bn in funding for his border wall.

The president accused House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of being a “radical” and acting “irrationally” during a series of tweets on Sunday and blamed his opponents for the continuing impasse, which has now entered its 31st day.

Ms Pelosi responded by calling on Mr Trump to re-open the government before starting talks on border issues, while Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said the president’s plan would be blocked.

The government shutdown, now the longest federal closure in American history, has prompted some celebrities to speak up on the continuing standoff between Mr Trump and Democrats. For instance, it sparked a feud between rapper Cardi B, whose real name is Belcalis Almanzar, and Fox News personality Tomi Lahren. After Ms Lahren chided the "Bodak Yellow" singer for speaking out against the government shutdown, Mr Almanzar replied "Leave me alone I will dog walk you." 

Lady Gaga also chimed in mid-song during a performance on Las Vegas to weigh in on the government shutdown. “If the f***ing president of the United States could please put our government back," the "Bad Romance" singer said. "There are people who live paycheck to paycheck and need their money.”

Other celebrities have responed to the government shutdown in philanthropic ways, including New Age personality Deepak Chopre and rock musician Jon Bon Jovi. In partnership with GoFundMe, Mr Chopra donated $10,000 to the company's crowdfunding campaign for furloughed federal workers. Mr Bon Jovi also offered free meals to government employees on Monday.

Furthermore, the government shutdown has led to some crippling effects on federal workers and public schools. The federal closure has forced some government workers to seek unemployment insurances, and according to a recent report, about 58% of furloughed employees are experiencing negative health effects due to the shutdown. Public schools are also concerned that they might not have enough funds to provide lunches to children. For instance, one school district in North Carolina is rationing off lunches to ensure that there is enough food to last them throughout the continuining shutdown.

[21 January 2019 15:15 · Sarah Harvard]

New York Republican Congressman Lee Zeldin suggested revoking congressional pay to persuade lawmakers to negotiate and come up with a deal on funding for the border wall.

“I really do believe that you should lock every member of Congress in a room, bring the president in, no phones, no pay. You’re not leaving until there’s white smoke,” Mr Zeldin said on John Catsimatidis’ radio show. “You need to negotiate, compromise with each other, with the president. I think you’d have a deal within maybe 45 minutes.”

[21 January 2019 15:33 · Sarah Harvard]

In hopes of getting the border wall, Mr Trump said he is willing to extend temporary protections for DREAM-ers, or undocumented immigrants brought into the country as children, as well as immigrants who hold Temporary Protected Status.

Democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi rejected the offer citing that the president's proposal did "not represent a good faith effort to restore certainty to people’s lives."

[21 January 2019 15:50 · Sarah Harvard]

Ms Pelosi said Trump's offer to extend temporary protections for DREAMers and TPS immigrants does not go far enough. The protections would only last for three years.

After calling the Democratic leader "radical" and acting "irrationally," Mr Trump said that he would not offer amnesty as a part of his deal.

"No, Amnesty is not a part of my offer," Trump tweeted on Sunday, insisting that he will not offer permanent protections to undocumented immigrants. "Amnesty will be used only on a much bigger deal, whether on immigration or something else."

[21 January 2019 16:06 · Sarah Harvard]

Reverend Al Sharpton, founder of the National Action Network, blasted President Donald Trump over the government shutdown and failing to honour Martin Luther King Jr during the organisation's breakfast event tributing the Civil Rights Era icon.

“The White House has not only shut down those workers, they’ve shut down the King holiday,” Mr Sharpton said.

Traditionally, presidents honoured Mr King by volunteering. Former President Bill Clinton signed legislation declaring the national holiday as a day of service—"a day on, not a day off."

[21 January 2019 16:30 · Sarah Harvard]

Per Reuters: "The Transportation Security Administration said Monday that unscheduled absences among the more than 50,000 U.S. airport security officers rose to 10 percent on Sunday as the government shutdown continues."

[21 January 2019 16:50 · Sarah Harvard]

MSNBC Producer Kyle Griffin resurfaced video footage from when President Donald Trump said last year to Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer that he would be to blame for the government shutdown—a complete change in rhetoric the president has made since the shutdown began.

[21 January 2019 17:05 · Sarah Harvard]

The Boston Red Sox, the 2018 World Series Champion, said the government shutdown could prevent them from visiting the White House next month.

“It’s hit people hard in the New England area. I’m not sure it’s appropriate to be celebrating in such a public way while there’s people who are struggling right now,” Red Sox president Sam Kennedy told the Boston Globe. “That’s been the internal conversation.”

Alex Cora, the team's manager, said if the Boston Red Sox manages to visit the White House, he hopes to represent his Puerto Rico background by bringing up some areas of concerns for the island country.

[21 January 2019 17:25 · Sarah Harvard]

A report from InCrowd, a physician market research firm, discovered that medial practitioners surveyed said 58% of its patients had their health negatively affected by the government shutdown.

Per the report: "​Lack of patient access ranked as the most frustrating aspect of the shutdown for respondents (28%). Many reported treatment compliance issues and missed appointments. Forty-seven percent of respondents report exacerbation of anxiety and other mental health conditionsbeing observed in a high frequency of patients. A quarter of respondents cited overwhelming feelings of helplessness and uncertainty around the shutdown as a major contributor negatively impacting patients’ wellbeing."

[21 January 2019 17:45 · Sarah Harvard]

As the government shutdown reaches 31 days, several federal workers have suggested participating in a strike. In an anonymous open letter published on Splinter, two federal workers wrote: "It is time for federal workers to organize and strike the government."

You can read the letter in full here.

[21 January 2019 18:05 · Sarah Harvard]

Mr Trump thanked furloughed federal workers on Sunday by tweeting that they were "great patriots."