'King-like powers': Chris Murphy says Trump prefers the government to remain closed
Source: Politico
10/26/2025 12:28 PM EDT
Democrats are accusing President Donald Trump and GOP congressional leadership of refusing to negotiate as the country heads into week four of a government shutdown, with one senator saying Trump prefers the government to be closed.
In an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper on Sunday’s “State of the Union,” Sen. Chris Murphy said the shutdown is giving Trump and his allies the ability to decide which departments are able to work.
“I think one of the reasons that President Trump is refusing to negotiate is because he likes the fact that the government is closed because he thinks he can exercise king like-powers,” the Connecticut senator said. “He can open up the parts of the government that he wants. He can pay the employees who are loyal to him. ... This is part of what happens in totalitarian states.”
As the shutdown continues, Democrats are adamant that they will not vote for a bill that does not extend health care subsidies but just days after the shutdown began, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said: “There is nothing to negotiate.” It is a position he has maintained, and Republicans have repeatedly argued issues around subsidies can be debated at a later date.
Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/26/murphy-kelly-democrats-shutdown-republicans-00623416
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