In the midst of a government shutdown that has stretched into its fourth week, President Trump is making moves to ensure that the brave men and women serving in the military do not go unnoticed. The President announced his support for a complete pay raise for all American service members, humorously suggesting that any soldier who prefers to forego the raise in a show of patriotic sacrifice should just let him know. He playfully pointed out that once the Democrats stop twiddling their thumbs and get on board, the pay hike will be a done deal. After all, as he hints with a wink, they always eventually come along.
Meanwhile, Vice President J.D. Vance is back on Capitol Hill rubbing shoulders with his former Republican colleagues, as military pay hangs in the balance due to political gridlock. The President’s latest address to the troops was filled with a characteristic boost in morale, and even a dash of humor, underscoring his commitment to the military while casually nudging Congress to do their jobs. On the other hand, Congress seems more concerned with maintaining the appearance of productivity rather than actually passing a budget.
While politicians in Washington wrestle over the future of government spending, the President is out in the world, striking trade deals and making friends. One could argue that he’s getting more done on foreign soil than Capitol Hill has managed in a while. Liz Peek, a Fox News contributor, raised an interesting point about Trump’s approval ratings, which have remained steady despite the shutdown. Apparently, voters are spreading the blame between both Democrats and Republicans. It’s almost comical how Congress continues to get paid while the rest of America feels the pinch. Perhaps an apt expression would be ‘business as usual.’
As the largest federal workers union calls for an end to the shutdown, there seems to be a mounting pressure on the Democrats to reconsider their stance. One might ask, what exactly are they fighting against? The Republicans have been advocating for a clean Continuing Resolution (CR), something the Democrats have rejected multiple times. With 800,000 federal workers anxious and an increasingly grumpy American public, perhaps it’s time for some political common sense to prevail.
Interestingly, Wall Street, the often finicky economic barometer, seems to be unfazed by the shutdown. Record closing highs were reported, showing confidence in the President’s international dealings, especially with China, despite the domestic strife. The markets appear comfortable with the President’s strategy overseas, approving of deals like the recent rare earth agreement with Japan. As long as the economy stays robust and stockbrokers continue to smile, perhaps the shutdown’s impact will remain a mere footnote in the history of governmental stalemates. Until, of course, America’s patience wears thin and demands answers from all the well-paid folks in Congress.
