Trump Says Democrats 'Own' Government Shutdown After Saying He Would Shoulder The Blame

Donald Trump summoned Senate Republicans to the White House this morning in a rallying cry to get them to somehow pass the newly-approved House spending bill that includes $5 billion for Trump's border wall.

Remember the 2016 campaign? 

'Who's gonna pay for 'the wall?' 'Mexico!'

Mind you, you need 60 votes in the Senate to pass a spending bill. There are nowhere near enough Democratic votes (if one) to get close to 60.

But Trump took to Twitter this morning already blaming the Democrats for any government shutdown that might occur tonight at midnight.

Senator Mitch McConnell should fight for the Wall and Border Security as hard as he fought for anything. He will need Democrat votes, but as shown in the House, good things happen. If enough Dems don’t vote, it will be a Democrat Shutdown! House Republicans were great yesterday!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 21, 2018

The Democrats now own the shutdown!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 21, 2018

But if you take a little trip on the Wayback Machine, you'll recall on December 11th in a nationally televised Oval Office meeting, Trump said:

“If we don’t get what we want, one way or the other, I will shut down the government. So I will take the mantle. I will be the one to shut it down. I’m not going to blame you for it. I’ll tell you what, I am proud to shut down the government.”

As Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer points out, the Senate passed a bipartisan bill to keep the government open and running.

You own the shutdown—your own words, @realDonaldTrump. The Senate UNANIMOUSLY passed a bipartisan solution to avoid a shutdown. Then you threw another temper tantrum and convinced the House to ignore that compromise. #TrumpShutdown pic.twitter.com/h4R7Qk6E1i

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) December 21, 2018

Wow. Watch every second of this.pic.twitter.com/pm5q5lSKut

— Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) December 21, 2018

In the case of a shutdown, nine federal departments and a number of agencies - Agriculture, Commerce, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Justice, State, Transportation and Treasury Departments - will all shutter.

More than 420,000 people will work without pay and an additional 380,000 workers will be furloughed.

Right before Christmas.

#ThanksTrump