October 26, 2025

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.

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