MSNBC reporter Jake Taylor revealed on Sunday that people inside the White House say President Donald Trump is "leaning in" to the government shutdown because it allows him to vastly expand his power.

Taylor joined MSBNC anchor Alex Witt on "Alex Witt Reports" to discuss the ongoing government shutdown and how each party is responding. The reporter said that "preliminary discussion" between Republicans and Democrats about reopening the government has begun, although neither party has admitted it publicly.

"I was just talking to a White House official who essentially said the president is relishing in this moment," Taylor said. "Of course, they said he wants the government open, but there are a lot of increased executive authority opportunities. The president has a moment like this, and he's really leaning into it."

Taylor mentioned that Trump has sought to dictate which furloughed federal workers are eligible to receive back pay once the government reopens, and which ones will be let go entirely. He added that Trump unilaterally moved to ensure military members received their paychecks and tried to halt funding for programs in Democratic districts.

How long this stalemate will continue remains to be seen, Taylor added.

"Privately, I am hearing from White House officials that there are some ongoing, very early discussions that have been taking place over the past few days between Republicans on the hill and White House officials about how this ACA tax credit, which is kind of the hangup for Republicans, can come to some type of compromise," Taylor said. "But publicly, they're not saying that. And they're continuing to say until the government is back open, we're not even going to have the discussion."