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President Donald Trump acknowledged that the major gains by Democrats in recent elections point to increasing challenges for Republicans, linking these setbacks to the ongoing record-long government shutdown now in its sixth week. His comments followed significant victories by Democratic candidates Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill in gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey, respectively, as well as Zohran Mamdani’s easy win over Trump-supported Andrew Cuomo in the New York City mayoral race. Additionally, Democrat Jay Jones secured the attorney general seat in Virginia, overcoming a scandal from 2022.
While meeting with GOP senators at the White House on Wednesday morning, Trump commented on the election results, stating it was not a positive night for anyone. He said, “We had an interesting evening, and we learned a lot, and we’re going to talk about that,” as reported by CNBC. He pointed out that the setbacks for Republicans were partly due to the prolonged government shutdown, which some pollsters considered a significant negative factor. Trump also noted that some analysts believed his absence from the ballot might have played a role.
Trump accused Democrats of being prepared to destroy the country as the shutdown—now the longest in U.S. history—continued past the 35-day mark set during his first term. Since Congress failed to approve funding beyond September 30, federal agencies have been operating at a halt. The impact is increasingly severe, with welfare programs that assist millions, including food aid, hanging in the balance. About 1.4 million federal workers—from air traffic controllers to park rangers—remain on unpaid leave or are working without pay. Courts are operating with emergency funds, though delays are expected if the shutdown persists.
Just before the shutdown reached its record length at midnight, the Trump administration warned of chaos at airports nationwide if the shutdown extended further into November, citing staff shortages that could cripple operations and close sections of airspace. Despite these issues, Thanksgiving travel is projected to hit new records, with roughly 5.8 million Americans expected to fly domestically for the November 27 holiday, according to AAA.
Many transportation security officers and air traffic controllers are working without pay, and the White House has warned that increased absenteeism could result in delays and chaos at security checkpoints. Past shutdowns, like the one in 2019, saw significant delays partly caused by employees calling in sick rather than working unpaid.
Both Democrats and Republicans remain firm on their opposing positions regarding the main obstacle—funding for health care. Democrats insist they will only approve spending if there is an agreement to extend expiring insurance subsidies that make healthcare affordable for millions. Republicans, on the other hand, demand that Democrats first agree to reopen the government before negotiations on healthcare funding can proceed.
While leadership on both sides shows little willingness to compromise, some moderate Democrats are working behind the scenes to explore solutions. A bipartisan group of four House centrists introduced a framework Monday aimed at reducing health insurance costs. Democrats believe the rising premiums faced by millions next year will pressure Republicans into seeking a deal. However, Trump has remained resolute, telling CBS News on Sunday that he would not be extorted into negotiations. He has also used the shutdown to pressure Democrats further, threatening mass layoffs and pushing to cut a popular food assistance program for 42 million Americans, a move that courts have blocked but the White House insists it is complying with legal obligations to distribute partial SNAP benefits as swiftly as possible.
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