On Thursday, Donald Trump continued his feud with Democrats on Capitol Hill over funding for a border wall, claiming in a ranting tweet that most of the hundreds of thousands of federal employees furloughed or forced to work without pay due to a partial government shutdown are Democrats.
“Have the Democrats finally realized that we desperately need Border Security and a Wall on the Southern Border. Need to stop Drugs, Human Trafficking, Gang Members & Criminals from coming into our Country,” he tweeted.
“Do the Dems realize that most of the people not getting paid are Democrats?” he added.
Trump did not provide an explanation for his claim.
The border wall has been the focal point of government funding negotiations between Congress and the White House.
The Senate initially passed a bill without the border wall funding, but Trump, after facing pressure from several conservative allies, declared the next day he would not sign it without money for his signature campaign promise.
The House last week passed a bill with $5.7 billion in wall funding, though it was seen as dead on arrival in the Senate as it was clear it would fail to reach a 60-vote hurdle.
Democrats will have significantly more leverage in negotiations come Jan. 3, when the party officially takes control of the House of Representatives.
Speaker-designate Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called funding for the wall a “nonstarter.”
Here’s Trump Twitter rant:
Have the Democrats finally realized that we desperately need Border Security and a Wall on the Southern Border. Need to stop Drugs, Human Trafficking,Gang Members & Criminals from coming into our Country. Do the Dems realize that most of the people not getting paid are Democrats?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 27, 2018
Twitter users were quick to respond, and it wasn’t pretty:
Sounds like an admission you’re targeting Democrats?
— William LeGate (@williamlegate) December 27, 2018
So you’re admitting that most of working Americans are Democrats and that you are deliberately targeting them and keeping pay from them for partisan politics? What happened to your “majority”?
— Dawn (@dawncholliday) December 27, 2018
Are you implying that the government was instructed to prioritize Democrats for furlough during the shutdown? Do you realize that would be a violation of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 that prevents discrimination of government employees by party affiliation?
— Brenden Sewell (@BrendenSewell) December 27, 2018
You nor the Third Lady will ever never ever enjoy this honor…. NEVER. Barack Obama is America's most admired man for the 11th year in a row, according to Gallup's annual poll.
Michelle Obama is now the most admired woman.
— Greg Brown (@GregBro63162482) December 27, 2018
Is this ‘wall’ going to protect this great country from the criminal element within your administration? #Resign
— RRJr (@RicRussoQ105) December 27, 2018
— Kas Thomas (@kasthomas) December 27, 2018
Trump: MOST OF THE PEOPLE NOT GETTING PAID SUPPORT THE WALL!
Also Trump: DEMOCRATS DON’T SUPPORT THE WALL!
Also also Trump: MOST OF THE PEOPLE NOT GETTNG PAID ARE DEMOCRATS!Seems legit…
— Matthew Gellert (@MatthewGellert) December 27, 2018
— Bruce E.H. Johnson (@BEHJ) December 27, 2018
— Buisson (@Buisson2020) December 27, 2018
What is your response?
