Trump's shutdown contradictions

"It's hard to argue you care about the working class while you're fighting to not fund SNAP payments. It's hard to argue Democrats are to blame for the shutdown when your party controls all of Congress. It's hard to argue prices are coming down everywhere when they're obviously going up for coffee, orange juice, ground beef, energy and housing."

""The president is well aware of this," a Trump adviser said of the polling. "But no one is coming out of this on the right side. People are pissed at all parties." Democratic pollster Will Jordan wrote on X: "The shutdown is no longer a 'process story' for a huge segment of Americans - 29% say it will have a very negative impact on them personally (was 11% three weeks ago) - the dominant explanation for how people will be hurt is 'food stamps/SNAP.'""

Clear contradictions and policy choices are harming public perception of the GOP and Trump amid the prolonged government shutdown. SNAP and food assistance have become central concerns for many Americans, and price increases for staples and housing are intensifying economic worries. Polling shows rising blame on Trump and the GOP, with his approval falling in late October. Trump offered a simple message that Democrats must end the shutdown, but his early absence weakened messaging. Trump advisers acknowledge the political fallout as Democrats respond with serious proposals while the shutdown reaches its 40th day.

Read at Axios