US shutdown: Donald Trump 'upset' stalemate could scupper first-year party plans
US President reportedly concerned failure to strike a deal could stop him from attending glitzy inauguration anniversary gala
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Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump has reportedly expressed disappointment the US government shutdown will prevent him from attending a party at his Mar-a-Lago estate.
The US President said he was frustrated the Congress impasse – that resulted in a lapse in federal spending on Friday night – would keep him from “my party”, two sources told the Daily Beast.
A White House official and a “longtime confidant” claimed Mr Trump had been concerned failure to strike a deal would impact on his plans to attend his inauguration anniversary party in Florida.
He had been due to depart on Friday to attend the fundraiser, with tickets starting at $100,000 (£72,000) a pair.
The Saturday gala will be hosted by Republican National Committee chairman Ronna Romney McDaniel, with proceeds going to the RNC and the Trump re-election campaign.
But the former real estate mogul was forced to postpone his trip after Congress found itself locked in a stalemate between spending priorities and immigration.
The Senate failed to pass the short-term spending bill that would have secured funding up to 16 February.
Mr Trump blamed the Democrats for the shutdown, saying they had “played politics” instead of prioritising the military and border safety.
He tweeted early on Saturday morning: “Democrats are far more concerned with Illegal Immigrants than they are with our great Military or Safety at our dangerous Southern Border. They could have easily made a deal but decided to play Shutdown politics instead. #WeNeedMoreRepublicansIn18 in order to power through mess!”
Earlier, Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer said Mr Trump was solely to blame.
“This will be called the #TrumpShutdown. There is no one who deserves the blame for the position we find ourselves in more than President Trump,” he wrote on Twitter.
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