Trump suggests GOP doesn’t need Democrats to avoid shutdown despite math problem

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump suggested Republicans should walk away from spending negotiations with Democrats, arguing the majority party will rely on itself to avoid a shutdown later this month — despite the math indicating otherwise.

In an appearance on “Fox and Friends” on Friday morning, Trump balked at top Democrats’ demands to include some health care policies in whatever stopgap funding measure Congress passes later this month. Trump pushed back against any requirements from Democrats in Congress, claiming that nothing would be enough to satisfy the other party.

“If you gave them every dream, they would not vote for it,” Trump said. “Don’t even bother dealing with them. We will get it through because the Republicans are sticking together for the first time in a long time.”