U.S. President Donald Trump on the 25th (local time) blamed the opposition Democratic Party as he discussed plans to carry out a sweeping firing of federal employees if a federal government shutdown (temporary work stoppage) occurs.
At the White House that day, during a summit with Türkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Trump said in response to related questions from reporters, "This is all caused by the Democrats."
He added, "They are making preposterous demands, such as paying federal funds to illegal immigrants and calling for the border to be opened." He went on, "This is what (Senate Majority Leader) Chuck Schumer and the Democrats want," and said, "They are trying to take our money."
The remarks are interpreted as effectively confirming the Trump administration's plan to drastically cut federal employees if a continuing resolution (CR, short-term spending law) fails to pass Congress by the 30th and government funding is halted. Earlier, the Associated Press reported that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) sent guidance to each department stating, "If there is no alternative funding starting on the 1st of next month, identify programs unrelated to the president's policy agenda and prepare plans to reduce the relevant employees."
Trump also said he is generating substantial revenue from his tariff policy and announced that part of the tariff revenue would be used to support U.S. farmers. He added, "We will make sure farmers remain in good shape," and said, "In the end, farmers will make a tremendous amount of money."
Asked whether the U.S. Department of Justice would indict former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey, whom he has regarded as a thorn in his side, Trump said, "I can't say what will happen going forward. I don't know either," but added, "I can only say Comey is a bad person. He is a sick person and did terrible things at the FBI."
Comey, who took office as FBI director in September 2013 during former President Barack Obama's tenure, was dismissed in May 2017, early in the first Trump administration. At the time, Comey was overseeing an investigation into allegations that Russia intervened in the 2016 presidential election to help elect President Trump.