Donald Trump is heading into his second term as president, but there’s a big problem: the federal government might be shut down when he’s inaugurated. This would make him the first U.S. president to face such a situation, and it’s creating a lot of buzz in Washington.
Here’s what’s going on. Trump and Elon Musk, who owns the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), blocked a bipartisan funding deal that would have kept the government open. This decision has thrown everything into chaos, just as Republicans were hoping to start the year strong... Continue reading here ▶
Politico describes it as “two shocks to the system.” First, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates, which caused the markets to drop. Second, Musk went on X and posted non-stop about a spending bill that Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson had supported. Musk didn’t just criticize the bill—he warned GOP lawmakers that backing it could cost them their seats.
Some Republicans seem okay with the idea of a government shutdown, but history shows these situations rarely go well for the party that causes them. Voters usually blame the side that’s seen as responsible, and Democrats are taking full advantage of the moment.
“Democrats are sitting back and watching,” Politico says. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre didn’t hold back either. She called out Republicans for “playing politics” and warned that a shutdown would hurt regular Americans and create nationwide instability.
As Trump prepares for his big day, he’s already facing major challenges. Starting a second term with a shutdown hanging over his head isn’t what anyone expected, and it’s raising questions about what’s next for the country.
