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Legal Threats and Political Theater
Predictably, critics on the left are furious. Axios reported that “Democrats and liberal policy experts have accused the president of illegally usurping Congress’ powers to appropriate money,” but Trump’s allies remain confident no one will dare sue to block military paychecks. After all, trying to stop the troops from getting paid would be political suicide.
“President Trump is continuing to make good on his promise to take care of the troops despite the fact Democrats have shut down the government and are fine with our bravest men and women getting no pay,” a Pentagon official told NBC News.
A White House insider added that the administration has “identified more money if this goes longer” — making it clear Trump has a plan to outlast the Democrats’ obstruction.
Democrats Cornered — Even Unions Turning
The shutdown, now in its 30th day, has become a political liability for Democrats. Despite 13 separate Senate votes to reopen the government, their leadership continues to block action.
Because of the filibuster rule, 55 senators — a clear majority — want to end the shutdown. Yet Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and his caucus refuse to budge, prioritizing political optics over governance. Schumer learned the hard way last spring that government shutdowns rarely benefit Democrats. But he’s back at it, gambling with the livelihoods of American families in a desperate bid for relevance.
As Axios noted, a senior administration official made it clear: Trump “won’t negotiate with hostage-takers in Congress because it inspires more hostage-taking.”
Even organized labor is fed up. The American Federation of Government Employees, which represents over 800,000 federal workers, released a statement saying, “It’s time to pass a clean continuing resolution and end this shutdown today.”
The Real Courage Test
Now, the pressure is mounting not just from Republicans and the White House — but from within the Democrats’ own base.
Senate Majority Whip John Thune put it bluntly: “We need five Democrats to show a little courage. Reopen the government and let’s get to work.”
Democrats thought they could score political points by holding military families hostage to force Trump’s hand. But the President once again flipped the script, proving he can deliver for America’s troops even when Washington’s political establishment grinds to a halt.
While Democrats argue, posture, and stall, Trump acts — and that’s exactly why he continues to dominate the headlines and win over everyday Americans.
He didn’t just talk about supporting the military — he made sure they got paid.
And that, in the middle of chaos, is what leadership looks like.
