President Donald Trump on Wednesday refused to give up his demand of a border wall as the partial government shutdown entered 33rd day, which is the longest in the US history and has virtually brought to standstill the functioning of the key departments.
"Build a Wall and Crime will fall! Trump said on twitter twice on Wednesday morning and asserted that this will be his new theme for the next two years.
"BUILD A WALL & CRIME WILL FALL! This is the new theme, for two years until the Wall is finished (under construction now), of the Republican Party. Use it and pray!" Trump said.
His demand for more than USD 5 billion to build the wall triggered a partial government shutdown that has lasted 33 days and counting. The shutdown has resulted in at least 800,000 federal employees not receiving their salaries for two consecutive fortnights now.
The Washington Post on Wednesday described this as an example of how Trump turns crisis into leverage. "He creates - or threatens to create - a calamity, and then insists he will address the problem only if his adversary capitulates to a separate demand," the daily said.
Trump has described this approach as creating leverage and negotiating, but Democrats and other opponents have said it amounts to "hostage taking," it said.
"It's sort of like bartering with stolen goods," said Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer.
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According to the daily, Trump has used this tactics with other countries as well in particular trade negotiations with Canada, Mexico, Japan, China, South Korea, North Korea and the European Union.
Citing various opinion polls, House Majority leader Steny H Hoyer said 33 days into this Trump shutdown, poll after poll shows he does own it. The American people overwhelmingly believe the president is responsible for the shutdown.
"It's time for President Trump and Congressional Republicans to stop holding the government hostage, and instead work with Democrats to reopen government and end this Trump shutdown," Hoyer said.
Meanwhile, Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to inquire about the impact of the government shutdown on craft breweries in Virginia.
The shutdown has halted operations at the federal agency that regulates alcohol production and distribution, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), part of the US Department of the Treasury. As a result, craft brewers across Virginia have been unable to secure approvals for labeling changes, new recipes, or operating permits.
The US Census Bureau is using funds appropriated in prior years to continue all critical work in preparation for the 2020 Census, including hiring for field operations. Neither schedule nor cost is impacted by the partial government shutdown at this time, the bureau asserted.
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