With the government shutdown entering its third day, the White House is doing everything in their power to shift blame onto the Democrats. In an attempt to defend Donald Trump, Sarah Huckabee Sanders doubled down the talking points.
Sanders on Trump
As the clock ticked down to midnight last Friday night, it became apparent that the government shutdown was going to become a reality. As has been the case in years past, Republicans and Democrats were unable to reach an agreement on funding, as both sides were too far apart to compromise. For the Democratic Party, the number one issue was to protect DREAMers and extend DACA to allow illegal immigrants who were brought to the United States as children to stay in the country.
The Republican argument centers around border security and a southern border wall while obtaining funding through a budget deal. Since then, Donald Trump has done his best to put the blame on the Democrats, despite Republicans holding control of the White House and both the Senate and House of Representatives, doing so in his most recent round of tweets. These issues and more were discussed during the January 22 edition of "Good Morning America."
Press Sec. on gov't shutdown: "I think frankly and sadly that Sen. Schumer is playing games. Look, he wants to make it like this is the president's fault and that the president hasn't been anything but clear, but he has." pic.twitter.com/vxmPEexOYG
— Good Morning America (@GMA) January 22, 2018
Joining host George Stephanopoulos on Monday morning was White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders who did her best to defend Donald Trump over the government shutdown.
"I think frankly and sadly that Sen. Schumer is playing games," Sanders said, before adding that the president has been clear in what he is looking for with a budget deal, despite evidence that contradicts her claims.
Press Sec.: "We cannot protect this country if we don't secure our border. That's the point the president is trying to make...it's absolutely appropriate for the Commander-in-Chief of this country to do everything he can to make sure he's protecting our citizens." pic.twitter.com/tiYLMXl6th
— Good Morning America (@GMA) January 22, 2018
George Stephanopoulos then fired back and questioned whether or not the White House wanted to question Chuck Schumer on his "knowledge" of the immigration and budget issue.
"Umm, if he’s unclear about what the president has laid out, then possibly," Sarah Huckabee Sanders replied. As the interview moved forward, Sanders continued to deflect from Stephanopoulos who pressed her on why the president hasn't done more to reach a bipartisan solution. "Different circumstances call for a different type of leadership,” Sanders answered, while insisting that Trump has been "incredibly engaged." When asked if Trump had set up any meeting with Democrats for the week, Sanders confirmed that nothing of the sort was on the schedule as of press time.
Next up
As Sarah Huckabee Sanders and the White House struggle to defend Donald Trump over the issue of the government shutdown, most Americans don't seem to be convinced of their argument. In the most recent round of polling, over 40 percent of Americans put the blame of the government shutdown on the doorstep of the Repubican Party, with just over 30 percent pointing fingers at the Democrats.
