Overview
- In the CBS interview, President Trump blamed Democrats for the funding lapse and said Republicans would keep forcing votes to reopen.
- Pressed on healthcare, he criticized Obamacare but declined to outline a replacement or a concrete plan to address costs before reopening.
- He urged Republicans to consider ending the Senate filibuster, a move Senate Majority Leader John Thune has opposed.
- The shutdown has left large numbers of federal employees unpaid, delayed pay for active-duty troops and National Guard, and put November SNAP benefits for roughly 42 million people in doubt.
- Trump also claimed Russia and China are testing nuclear weapons and vowed to resume U.S. testing, assertions coverage described as inaccurate regarding foreign tests.