Trump says government shutdown ends when Democrats give in: "If they don't vote, that's their problem"

Updated on: November 2, 2025 / 7:35 PM EST / CBS News

President Trump slammed Democrats as "crazed lunatics" who have "lost their way," blaming them for a government shutdown poised to become the longest in history with no deal in sight. But he offered no immediate plan to address health care costs, a sticking point for Democrats who want Republicans to agree to extend government subsidies for the more than 20 million Americans with Obamacare.

The shutdown began a month ago and is just a few days shy of the 35-day record set by the 2018-2019 shutdown, which took place during Mr. Trump's first term in office.

Furloughed federal workers are going unpaid as the shutdown continues. Active-duty military personnel, as well as National Guard who are currently deployed, must carry out their assigned duties with their pay delayed until the shutdown is over.

The prolonged shutdown also puts millions of Americans at risk of missing their November food stamp benefits.

Mr. Trump places the blame for the shutdown at the feet of Democrats. He said his plan to end the shutdown is to "keep voting."

"The Republicans are voting almost unanimously to end it, and the Democrats keep voting against ending it," Mr. Trump said. "You know, they've never had this. This has happened like 18 times before. The Democrats always voted for an extension, always saying, 'Give us an extension, we'll work it out.'"

Without federal subsidies, the cost of insurance under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, could double. Mr. Trump called Obamacare "terrible" and said "it's bad health care at far too high a price."

"We should fix that. Fix it. And we can fix it with the Democrats," he said "All they have to do is let the country open and we'll fix it."

Mr. Trump has talked about fixing the health care system for years, including during his first term in office.