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Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., claimed on Sunday that President Donald Trump exercised "king-like powers" by accepting Timothy Mellon’s donation to pay U.S. military troops during the government shutdown.

"One of the reasons that President Trump is refusing to negotiate is because he likes the fact that the government is closed," Murphy told CNN host Jake Tapper. "He thinks he can exercise king-like powers."

"He can open up the parts of the government that he wants. He can pay the employees who are loyal to him. This is a leader who is trying to transition our government from a democracy to something much closer to a totalitarian state," he continued.

CONNECTICUT DEMOCRATIC SENATOR UNDER FIRE OVER 'SHAMEFUL' ANTI-TRUMP PR

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