Trump is not canceling journey, golf, or his ballroom, even with the federal government shuttered and 750,000 furloughed federal staff

In shutdowns previous — together with throughout Trump’s first time period — presidents usually scaled again their schedules. With staffers deemed “non-essential” despatched dwelling, the White House usually sought to seem sympathetic to Americans affected by disruptions to well being care, veterans advantages and different key providers.

The present shutdown has left around 750,000 federal employees furloughed and others working with out pay. Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, is lapsing after Friday — affecting 1 in 8 Americans who rely it to assist purchase groceries.

Nonetheless, it’s been principally enterprise as standard for Trump over the previous 29 days.

“It’s like that country song: ‘Sometimes falling feels like flying for a little while,’” stated Paul Begala, a Democratic strategist and former adviser to President Bill Clinton, who presided over two shutdowns between 1995 and 1996. “They seem to be like, ‘So far, so good, man.’”

Ballroom constructing, golf, fundraisers and journeys

Trump is on a six-day swing by Asia, after a latest, whirlwind Middle East visit to have a good time a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal in Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza. He hosted a White House fundraiser for main donors to his $300 million ballroom that has seen building crews tear down the East Wing, and held one other fundraiser at his Mar-a-Lago property in Florida.

Members of the Cabinet have equally hit the highway. Vice President JD Vance traveled to Israel, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem went to Portland, Oregon, to decry protests there, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth acquired a firsthand have a look at TOPGUN, the U.S. Navy’s elite fighter weapons college in Nevada.

Only 32% of the workers within the Executive Office of the President had been set to be furloughed in the course of the present shutdown, in keeping with information in a contingency report from the White House finances workplace. That’s down from 61% during the last shutdown in 2018-19, throughout Trump’s first time period. About half of the Executive Mansion’s group of housekeepers, ushers, valets and butlers are at the moment working. Last time, greater than 70% had been furloughed.

It’s usually been arduous to inform a shutdown is occurring with so many staffers remaining at their desks.

“I don’t even know if they’re supposed to be working, but they wouldn’t miss a day,” Trump stated throughout an occasion final week.

It’s a departure from Trump’s first time period, when he minimize out weekend golf video games and canceled a planned trip to Mar-a-Lago for Christmas in the course of the 2018 shutdown, which stretched into the brand new yr. He made a surprise visit to visit troops in Iraq then, however nixed plans to go to the Swiss alps for the World Economic Forum.

When internet hosting Clemson University soccer gamers to have a good time their NCAA soccer championship, Trump introduced in burgers and fries from McDonald’s, Burger King and Wendy’s and pizza from Domino’s due to White House workers furloughs.

This time, the president had Republican senators over for a lunch that featured burgers, too. But workers made them. “They do great food at the White House,” Trump stated.

‘A smarter approach’

Barreling forward like there’s no shutdown has some political benefits for Trump, allies say: It permits him to look presidential whereas avoiding congressional bickering.

“It’s a much smarter approach,” stated Marc Short, chief of workers to former Vice President Mike Pence.

In Trump’s first-term shutdown, he rejected a congressional compromise to drive the federal government to shut — an try and win funding for a wall alongside the U.S.-Mexico border. Then, he named Pence as lead negotiator to finish the shutdown whereas involving his son-in-law Jared Kushner — creating the visible of the pair having to go to Capitol Hill.

“The first go-around, he was pretty clear with cameras rolling: He said he wanted the shutdown. He claimed ownership,” Short stated. This time? “The White House has been clear about not owning it.”

Back in 1995, Begala recalled speaking technique with Clinton throughout a sweaty summer time run at Fort McNair in Washington, and telling the president that Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich and his occasion “think they can roll you” to make cuts to Medicare by threatening a shutdown.

Clinton responded: “‘My favorite movie’s ‘High Noon,’” Begala recalled, referring to the 1952 Western wherein a marshal stands as much as outlaws. ”‘They do that — then I just have a Gary Cooper, High Noon moment. That’s simple.’”

When Gingrich later got here to the White House to barter, Begala stated Clinton refused to budge, regardless that some advisers urged him to chop a deal. Voters finally blamed congressional Republicans greater than the White House for the federal government closing, and Clinton was simply reelected in 1996.

“That could have really gone badly for Clinton,” Begala stated. “But he did understand that standing strong and having a Gary Cooper moment would be really good for him.”

Past White Houses highlighted shutdown results

During the 16-day authorities shutdown of 2013, President Barack Obama scrapped a four-country Asia journey and skipped the swanky Congressional Hispanic Caucus gala. His schedule featured occasions meant to indicate the consequences of the shutdown, together with visiting a Maryland building agency that benefited from the type of federal enterprise loans being jeopardized with the federal government shuttered.

In 2019, as that shutdown dragged on, Trump’s White House officers acknowledged feeling stress to finish it, anxious that Trump’s polling numbers might undergo. This time, the administration’s public messaging has been guilty the Democrats whereas signaling that it’s ready to attend — even warning of coming journey delays in the course of the Thanksgiving holidays.

“President Trump is continuing to work night and day on behalf of American people,” White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson stated in an announcement. “The entire administration, including the president, will continue highlighting the workers and families who are suffering because of the Democrats’ decision to shut down the government.”

Bill Daley, a White House chief of workers to Obama within the years previous to the 2013 shutdown, stated Trump isn’t appearing like he’s feeling political warmth to reopen the federal government, even earlier than subsequent Tuesday’s gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey — each dwelling to sizable federal workforces.

“My guess is, he thinks it helps him,” Daley stated, “until — and I don’t know if it will — the bottom falls out.”

Democrats are demanding an extension of expiring tax credit which have helped hundreds of thousands of individuals afford medical health insurance, whereas Republicans have refused to barter till the federal government is reopened.

Trump has stated the federal government should reopen, but additionally used the shutdown to chop federal positions and target programs Democrats favor, whereas redirecting funds to his personal priorities — like overlaying navy paychecks. The president has even stated of closed museums, “We should probably just open them,” although that hasn’t but occurred.

Americans, in the meantime, are divided on who’s guilty.

Roughly 6 in 10 say Trump and congressional Republicans have “a great deal” or “quite a bit” of duty for the shutdown, whereas 54% say the identical about Democrats in Congress, in keeping with a latest ballot from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

Mike McCurry, a White House press secretary underneath Clinton, stated Democrats have but to decide on a transparent shutdown message that has resonated. Trump has the presidency to ship his take, however McCurry famous he has been “mercurial.”

“It is not likely we’re going to have clear winners or losers after this,” McCurry stated. “It’s going to be a bit of a muddle.”