President Trump sharply challenged a reporter’s question about the government shutdown, dismissing claims of it being the longest in history by blaming Democrats. When pressed on resolving the impasse, he asserted that Republicans are unified in supporting reopening the government while Democrats repeatedly block progress. “All they have to do is say ‘let’s vote,’” he stated.

In a separate exchange, Trump rejected ending the shutdown through what he called “extortion,” accusing opponents of abandoning their principles. He targeted Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, labeling him a “basketcase,” and urged Republicans to eliminate the filibuster to advance policies like voter ID laws. “Terminate the filibuster, not just for the shutdown, but for everything else,” he emphasized, framing his approach as necessary to counter what he described as extreme Democratic tactics.