Trump Wavers on Health Talks as US Shutdown Enters Second Week

United States President Donald Trump briefly suggested he was open to negotiating with Democrats on healthcare subsidies, the central issue behind the ongoing government shutdown, before quickly reversing course and blaming the opposition for the deadlock.

The shutdown, now in its seventh day, has left hundreds of thousands of federal employees furloughed and key government services frozen as both parties trade blame over stalled spending bills.

Mixed Messages from the White House

Speaking at the Oval Office on Monday, Trump told reporters he would like to “see a deal made for great healthcare,” hinting at a bipartisan compromise. “We have a negotiation going on right now with the Democrats that could lead to very good things,” he said.

But just hours later, Trump appeared to contradict himself. Writing on Truth Social, he declared that Democrats must reopen the government first:

“I am happy to work with the Democrats on their Failed Healthcare Policies, or anything else, but first they must allow our Government to reopen.”

The post effectively walked back any notion of ongoing talks, restoring the combative tone that has characterised the shutdown from the start.

Democrats Deny Negotiations

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer swiftly rejected Trump’s claim that negotiations were underway.

“This isn’t true,” Schumer said in a statement. “If Republicans are finally ready to sit down and get something done on healthcare for American families, Democrats will be there – ready to make it happen.”

Democrats have made healthcare subsidies and Medicaid protections their key leverage point, insisting that any spending deal must include an extension of expiring Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies before the next enrollment period opens in November.

They also want to reverse recent Medicaid cuts affecting low-income and disabled Americans, measures the White House has defended as necessary to reduce the deficit.

Senate Gridlock Deepens

On Monday evening, the Senate failed once again to pass a temporary Republican funding bill to keep the government open through November, falling eight votes short of the 60 needed to advance.

A Democratic version of the bill, extending funding through October 31 and making ACA subsidies permanent, also failed, 45 to 55, along party lines.

With neither side yielding, the deadlock has hardened into a familiar Washington standoff: Democrats holding out for social protections, Republicans demanding fiscal restraint, and the White House trying to control the narrative.

Economic and Political Stakes

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, if the healthcare subsidies expire, premiums could more than double for millions of Americans currently benefiting from federal assistance, a scenario that would add economic pressure to an already tense political landscape.

Trump, meanwhile, continues to portray the crisis as a test of resolve rather than governance. By framing the impasse as “Democrat obstruction,” he signals to his base that confrontation remains preferable to compromise, even as the costs of paralysis begin to climb.

For now, both sides appear dug in. The president insists the “show must go on,” while Democrats say they won’t reopen the government without guarantees for vulnerable Americans. The longer the standoff lasts, the more the political cost, and the human one, will grow.