President Donald Trump confirmed during a joint press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that significant permanent federal job reductions are imminent, citing the ongoing government shutdown as an opportunity to eliminate “billions of dollars of waste, fraud, and abuse.” The president asserted that Democratic leaders had “handed it to him on a silver platter,” accusing them of creating the crisis to justify his proposed cuts.

Trump emphasized that the shutdown has provided a “unique advantage” to streamline federal operations, stating, “We have a lot of things that we’re going to eliminate and permanently eliminate.” He highlighted the potential for a “closer to balanced budget” outcome but stopped short of specifying which programs or agencies would be affected. The president also criticized Democratic leadership, comparing it to “Somalia,” and questioned the authority of unnamed figures claiming to represent the party.

On trade, Trump reiterated his focus on reducing competition with Canada, particularly in automotive manufacturing and steel production. He claimed the U.S. has “natural conflict” with its northern neighbor but stressed the importance of maintaining a strong relationship. The president also praised Trudeau’s leadership, calling him a “transformative prime minister” and expressing optimism about ongoing negotiations for peace in the Middle East.

Trump addressed concerns over furloughed federal workers, stating, “I would say it depends on who we’re talking about,” while vowing to “take care of our people” but implying some employees may not deserve back pay. He also reiterated his administration’s strict border policies, claiming zero unauthorized entries at the southern border for four months and attributing improved safety in cities like Washington, D.C., to National Guard efforts.

The press conference concluded with Trump expressing confidence in resolving trade disputes with Canada, stating, “We have a lot of things that we’re working on that people don’t talk about,” while reaffirming his commitment to fairness in international trade agreements.