If the Shutdown Is a Messaging Battle, the GOP Plans to Win It

Now two weeks into the federal government shutdown, Republicans say they like the contrast between themselves and Democrats—with President Donald Trump halting a devastating conflict in the Middle East, while Democrats continue to vote against reopening the government.

“President Trump has continued to do his job for the American people, and thank God, because the world is a safer place with President Trump at the helm,” said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., at a Tuesday press conference, a day after Trump secured the release of the last surviving hostages held by Hamas as part of a ceasefire deal to halt the Israel-Hamas war.

 “What a historic day, and again, a real contrast to the temper tantrum that [Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.] is having to appease the most radical elements of the far-left base here in America,” Scalise added.

“Today should be a day of celebration. President Trump achieved a historic peace deal in the Middle East,” said House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn. “Yet, we’re all here today, marking Day 14 of the Democrat shutdown. And to make matters even worse, if the Democrats had things their way, this would also mark the first week that our troops would not receive their paychecks.”

Trump has redirected funds to ensure that troops receive their pay amid the shutdown.

President Donald Trump in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt (Suzanne Plunkett/pool via Getty Images)

Throughout the shutdown, Republicans have remained keenly aware of the importance of messaging, as evidenced by Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., continuing to hold press conferences at the Capitol every weekday.

As Republicans see it, the shutdown is about Democrat messaging, so it’s unlikely to end before a series of rallies this coming weekend.

On Oct. 18, there are an untold number of left-wing “No Kings” protests scheduled across the country to protest Trump.

 Although Republicans continue to encourage Democrats to vote for the stopgap funding bill to reopen the government, they do not appear to expect any end to the shutdown at least until after those protests.

Scalise said that Schumer has held his ground to “appease the most radical elements of his base so that on the 18th, when they have the hate America rally that everybody knows is coming and [where] everybody knows Chuck Schumer needs to deliver a shutdown government to them to appease them.”

Scalise added, “Regardless of who he thinks he’s appeasing, he’s hurting so many people.”

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