GOP strategist: Shutdown is on Trump and GOP

Republican strategist John Weaver said Saturday that blame for the government shutdown falls on President Trump and the GOP.

“Trump created the [Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program] crisis. The congressional wing of the GOP refused to fund CHIP. Trump & GOP ignored the pleas of the Pentagon for a fully funded budget. All of this is on them,” Weaver said.

Trump created the DACA crisis. The congressional wing of the GOP refused to fund CHIP. Trump & GOP ignored the pleas of the Pentagon for a fully funded budget. All of this is on them.

— John Weaver (@JWGOP) January 20, 2018

{mosads}The strategist, who previously worked for Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) and Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) 2008 presidential campaign, has often been critical of Trump. 

The government shut down at midnight on Friday after the Senate failed to pass a continuing resolution to fund it. Democrats and Republicans are scrambling to place blame on the other side for the failure.

Trump and Republicans have blamed Democrats for the shutdown. But Democrats fired back, saying it was the GOP’s fault for refusing to attach a measure extending protections for recipients of the DACA program to the bill.

The hashtag #TrumpShutdown was the top trending topic worldwide Friday night.

Trump blamed Democrats for the government shutdown in a series of tweets 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!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 

This is the One Year Anniversary of my Presidency and the Democrats wanted to give me a nice present. #DemocratShutdown

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 

Democrats are holding our Military hostage over their desire to have unchecked illegal immigration. Can’t let that happen!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018