Rick Santorum slips: Trump lacks 'empathy' over shutdown and is not 'concerned' about people's paychecks

On Tuesday, Republican strategist Rick Santorum confessed that President Donald Trump has a lack of “empathy” during a panel discussion with CNN's Jake Tapper.

The government shutdown has extended to the new year with no near end in sight.

While Trump negotiates with Democrats to end the shutdown and come into agreement about his border wall, more than 800,000 of Americans are left without pay and are struggling to meet their basic needs.

Even on Twitter, people shared their shutdown stories about how it is impacting their lives.

Santorum said that Trump lacks "empathy" and that the impact that the shutdown is having on people will not compel him to act any faster and or to "back down."

"The president isn't long on empathy," Santorum said. "I don't think that any of the stories about people not getting their [paychecks] will have any impact on him."

"I think the president feels like he can weather the storm because he is not concerned about the people callings saying 'I can't pay for my house.' I don't think he is going to back down," he said.

Watch the full panel discussion below via CNN.