Dug-in lawmakers see Trump as antidote to shutdown gridlock

Published October 19, 2025 7:00am ET



President Donald Trump has largely stayed out of the government shutdown brawl on Capitol Hill, which will soon reach its three-week mark.

But lawmakers on both sides of the aisle see Trump as pivotal to ending the impasse centered on Democratic healthcare demands, even as GOP leaders so far want him to steer clear of negotiations.

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