Republicans are relishing a role reversal in the shutdown fight. Can Trump keep them united?
October 2, 2025
Republican leaders have presented a united stance as they try to keep the government open and berate Democrats for demanding health care policy changes in exchange for their votes. It’s a role reversal from previous funding battles. The change is happening because President Donald Trump is exercising top-down control over a mostly unified GOP. Democrats, meanwhile, have been left scrambling for leverage in the first year of Trump’s second term, using the funding fight to exert what influence they can. It’s an awkward posture for a party that has long cast itself as the adults in the room during shutdown threats.