Donald Trump declares a “big victory” as Senate Democrats cross party lines to end the longest US government shutdown in history.
US President Donald Trump has declared a “major victory” over Democrats as the longest government shutdown in US history moves toward resolution. The announcement came during a Veterans Day ceremony in Arlington, where Trump celebrated bipartisan support for a stopgap funding bill.
Bipartisan Breakthrough in the Senate
The US Senate took a key step toward reopening the government after 41 days of paralysis.
Eight Democratic senators broke ranks to back a Republican-led funding bill that would keep the government open through January 30.
“Congratulations… on a very big victory,” Trump said to House Speaker Mike Johnson, who attended the event. “We’re opening up our country — it should have never been closed.”
The bill now heads to the House of Representatives, where a final vote could end the shutdown by Friday. More than one million federal employees have gone unpaid during the standoff, disrupting air travel, food benefits, and public services across the country.
Democratic Rift Over Concessions
The deal has divided Democrats. Senior party leaders argued they should have held out for the extension of health insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, one of the central issues behind the funding stalemate.
The split comes just days after Democrats celebrated state-level election wins that had put pressure on Trump’s administration over the cost of living crisis.
Trump Seizes the Political Moment
Speaking at the Arlington National Cemetery, Trump used the solemn Veterans Day event to tout his political win — breaking with the presidential tradition of avoiding partisan remarks during military ceremonies.
The 79-year-old leader also announced plans to rename Veterans Day as “Victory Day”, honoring US triumphs in World War I and World War II. Wearing a dark coat and burgundy scarf, Trump laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, paying tribute to America’s war dead.
A Symbolic End to a Costly Standoff
If passed by the House, the bill would reverse the firing of federal workers affected by the shutdown — a key Democratic demand.
Still, political analysts note that the standoff exposed deep divisions in Congress, with both parties facing pressure from voters weary of partisan gridlock.
Comments are closed.