U.S. under Trump Series: Government shutdown looms as Trump sees no deal

A U.S. government shut down looks very much likely as President Trump doesn’t see a deal that can be reached with the Democrats. He cited Democrats’ poor standing on immigration and crime as one of the key reasons. President Trump tweeted yesterday, “Meeting with “Chuck and Nancy” today about keeping government open and working. Problem is they want illegal immigrants flooding into our Country unchecked, are weak on Crime and want to substantially RAISE Taxes. I don’t see a deal!”

After the President’s tweet, the Democratic leader of the House and the Senate, Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi abandoned plans to meet Trump to break the budget impasse, ““given that the president doesn’t see a deal between Democrats and the White House, we believe the best path forward is to continue negotiating with our Republican counterparts in Congress instead”.

According to reports in the American media, the major point of tension between the two sides is the Obama administration’s executive program giving legal protections to children of immigrants living in the US illegally, known as “Dreamers.” Trump scrapped the program, known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), in September. If Congress doesn’t pass a law granting them legal status, “Dreamers” may face deportation next year. Democrats are demanding that any deal on funding the government include language providing protection for DACA recipients. Trump and Congressional Republicans have countered by pushing for funding of the wall along the border with Mexico.

This will be the biggest ever Domestic showdown/game of chicken between the Republicans and the Democrats under the Trump presidency and no one is sure on how it might finally turn out. Both the House and Senate must pass a spending bill by December 8 to avoid the shutdown.