US President Donald Trump on Monday praised a “very good” bipartisan compromise to end the nation’s longest-ever government shutdown, after several Democratic senators broke ranks to support Republicans.
“We’ll be opening up our country very quickly,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, adding that he would “abide by the deal” and that “the deal is very good,” when asked about reinstating federal workers affected by the shutdown.
The remarks came after Trump expressed optimism a day earlier, suggesting the end of the record-breaking shutdown, which stretched beyond 40 days, was imminent.
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“It looks like we’re getting very close to the shutdown. We never agreed to give any substantial money, or any money to prisoners, illegals that come into our country and I think that the Democrats understand that; and it looks like we’re getting close to the shutdown ending. You’ll know it very soon,” he told reporters on Sunday.
Citing sources familiar with the matter, CNN reported that at least eight centrist Senate Democrats had reached an understanding with Senate GOP leaders and the White House to reopen the government in exchange for a future vote on extending enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies.
Reiterating his optimism, Trump said, “I think the Democrats understand that, and it looks like we’re getting close to the shutdown ending. You’ll know very soon.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune also confirmed that talks were moving forward. “A deal is coming together,” he told reporters, while cautioning that it might not immediately resolve the standoff. “We’ll see where the votes are,” he added.
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