Political analysts and observers brutally mocked President Donald Trump after he wrote a post on Truth Social where he seemed to admit that he is at fault for the partial shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security.
Part of DHS has been shut down for more than a month as Republicans and Democrats negotiate over a bill to cut more than $5 billion in funding from the agency and institute a series of reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Democrats have been pushing for the changes since ICE agents shot and killed two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The partial shutdown has impacted parts of DHS like the Transportation Security Administration, which has caused security lines to grow at airports nationwide.
"I don’t think we should make any deal with the Crazy, Country Destroying, Radical Left Democrats unless, and until, they Vote with Republicans to pass 'THE SAVE AMERICA ACT," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "It is far more important than anything else we are doing in the Senate, and that includes giving these same terrible people, the Dems (who are to blame for this mess!), a Five Billion Dollar cut in ICE funding, a deal which, even when disguised as something else, is unacceptable to me and the American people - UNLESS it includes their approval of Voter I.D., (with picture!), Citizenship to Vote, No Mail-In Voting (with exceptions), All Paper Ballots, No Men In Women’s Sports, and No Transgender MUTILIZATION of our precious children."
Trump also called on Republicans to package his legislation into one bill, and stay in Washington, D.C. through Easter to pass it, if necessary.
Analysts and observers reacted to the post on social media.
"Trump proves that he is the one responsible for the DHS shutdown," Ron Filipkowski, editor-in-chief at MeidasTouch.com, posted on X.
"Apart from the obvious that he’s a raving lunatic, it’s worth emphasizing that the SAVE America Act is even more restrictive than the SAVE Act (which is dangerous enough), causing even worse administrative burden and inequity," political scientist Miranda Yaver posted on Bluesky.
"Republicans aren't going to stay in D.C. for Easter. They have photo ops of going to Easter church services and Easter Egg Hunts to attend," writer Brian Hall posted on Bluesky.