President Donald Trump, addressing the media on Tuesday, seized the opportunity presented by the ongoing government shutdown to highlight his administration's efforts to eliminate what he termed "billions in waste, fraud, and abuse.
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The shutdown, which commenced after Congress failed to agree on a funding deal, has been attributed by Trump to the Democrats' lack of leadership, a situation he likened to the governance issues in Somalia.
As reported by The Post Millennial, during an Oval Office meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump criticized the Democrats for their role in the impasse, asserting that they "made a big mistake" by obstructing a Republican-supported short-term funding proposal. "Because of the shutdown, were able to take out billions in waste, fraud, and abuse," Trump stated, adding, "They handed it to us on a silver platter."
The partial shutdown began after the Senate dismissed a House-approved continuing resolution intended to finance agencies until November 21. The Democrats opposed the measure, insisting on the extension of enhanced Obamacare subsidies, which are set to expire at the end of 2025.
Trump revealed that his administration is utilizing the shutdown to scrutinize and potentially eliminate redundant programs. When pressed by a reporter for specifics, he replied, "Oh sure. Im not gonna tell you, but well be announcing it pretty soon. There are a lot of things were going to permanently eliminate."
He commended his budget director, Russ Vought, as "a very serious person" tasked with preparing the forthcoming spending cuts. Trump further criticized the Democrats, claiming they "have no real leader," and compared their internal chaos to a failed state. "Im getting calls from Democrats wanting to meetIve never even heard their names before. They remind me of Somalia," he remarked.
In a pointed reference to Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), who hails from Somalia, Trump recounted a conversation with the Somali president. "I met the president of Somalia and told him about the problem hes got," Trump said. "I said, Youve got someone from Somalia telling us how to run our country. Would you like to take her back? He said, No, I dont want her. You know who Im talking about."
The comments were made prior to Trump's private discussions with Prime Minister Carney, where the agenda was expected to cover trade, tariffs, and Middle East peace initiatives. Trump expressed optimism about the potential for agreements that would be "good for both nations."
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