White House Targets Pelosi Even After Trump‘s ‘Proud’ Shutdown Vow

President Donald Trump argues about border security with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi as Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, right, and Vice President Mike Pence look on in the Oval Office on December 11. Credit: Mark Wilson, Getty Images

Democratic aides taken aback over White House claims of recent offers to talk

The White House is waging a public relations campaign aimed at shifting blame for what could be a lengthy government shutdown to the top House Democrat and away from President Donald Trump even though he just days ago he said he was “proud” to single-handily own it.

Trump and the top two Democratic leaders engaged in a televised war of words on December 11 in an Oval Office confrontation during which the president took ownership of the coming partial shutdown. The president told them he would be “proud to shut down the government for border security,” adding he would “take the mantle” before roaring this: “I’m not going to blame you for it.”

But Trump is now blaming House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, the California Democrat expected to again become speaker next week. The calculation is a political one: Pelosi was one of Trump’s favorite foils in his 2016 presidential campaign and as he hit the trail for November’s midterm elections. And he and his aides made clear she will be a focal point of his expected 2020 re-election campaign.

View the complete December 28 article by John T. Bennett on The Roll Call website here.