As the incoming President, Trump finds it convenient to sidestep responsibility for the impending political turmoil that is bound to unfurl. Shifting responsibility onto Biden’s lap is his masterstroke, as he incinerated a bipartisan agreement, whose sole purpose was to keep the government running smoothly.
On an early Friday morning, Trump made a proclamation that it would be best if the government came to a standstill under Biden’s regime rather than let the deadlock of the congressional body cause political embarrassment post his inauguration next month. In his own words, ‘The onus lies entirely on Biden to rectify the situation, but the Republicans won’t shy away from providing a helping hand should the situation arise.’
Trump is of the view that Biden should bear the brunt for any form of political backlash brewing in the horizon. Sending out a caution to the fellow Republicans, he stated, ‘Bear in mind that the pressure is always on the one wearing the president’s mantle.’ This, in a way, signifies that Trump is well aware of the deadline looming large.
His four-year absence from power is set to end in the next 31 days as he prepares to take the presidential oath again. Returning to power also means taking up the responsibility and accountability he left behind.
Roughly 48 hours have passed since Trump laid out the groundwork for a shutdown, as he categorically demanded Republicans to snub the bipartisan spending deal they reached upon. This has led Congress to stare at another disaster that’s waiting to happen by year-end, taking from them the authority to funnel money during the festive season.
Trump is intent on shrugging off the fallout of a possible shutdown. The consequences of this decision are grave – key services getting interrupted, federal workers getting temporarily suspended from their duties, and exorbitant public ire regarding their dysfunctional government. But the soon-to-be president seems unwavered by this.
As part of his latest scheme to avoid this, the president-elect made a plea to his fellow party members on Thursday evening, asking them to back a new Republican bill. This bill, if passed, would put a halt to the nation’s debt ceiling and postpone the legislative confrontation until 2027, when he will be deep into his second tenure.
Contradicting Trump’s desires, over three dozen staunch Republicans voted against the proposed legislation, thereby dooming it. Skeptics might suggest that such erratic behavior on the part of Republicans doesn’t bode well for the future of the party.