Trump, GOP seek to shift blame for shutdown to Pelosi
By Naomi Jagoda - 12/28/18 05:06 PM EST
White House officials and congressional Republicans are seeking to blame the partial government shutdown on House Speaker-designate Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), as the standoff over funding for a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border appears likely to extend into the new year.
Acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney in an interview Friday said Pelosi can’t move on the wall because of the Jan. 3 floor vote for House Speaker, repeating an argument first made by President Trump in an Oval Office meeting with Democrats.
“She cannot be seen by her party as being weak on negotiating with Donald Trump,†Mulvaney said on Fox News Friday, suggesting that if Pelosi bargained with Trump, it could cost her votes from liberals.
The White House is also seeking to portray a split between Pelosi and Sen. Charles Schumer (N.Y.), who leads Democrats in the Senate.
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https://thehill.com/homenews/house/423155-trump-gop-seeks-to-shift-blame-for-shutdown-to-pelosi