President Donald Trump told reporters Oct. 7, 2025, during a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney that Democrats were the ones who started the shutdown. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Trump told reporters Tuesday during a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney that Democrats were the ones who started the shutdown, even as Democrats have pinned the blame on Republicans, who control both the House and Senate.
"This is like a kamikaze attack. They have nothing to lose," Trump said of the Democrats, referencing suicide missions by Japanese aviators during World War II.
Additionally, Trump said it "depends on who we’re talking about" when asked about whether furloughed workers would be compensated after the shutdown ends.
"The Democrats have put a lot of people in great risk and jeopardy, but it really depends on who you're talking about," Trump said. "But for the most part, we're going to take care of our people. There are some people that really don't deserve to be taken care of, and we'll take care of them in a different way."
The possibility of furloughed workers not receiving backpay, first reported by Axios, already comes as the Trump administration is moving to trim the federal government. For example, OMB already instructed agencies in September to craft plans for a reduction-in-force should a government shutdown occur.
The move is a departure from the status quo, since furloughed employees typically return to their jobs once the government shutdown ends.
HERE'S WHAT TRUMP WANTS TO DO TO RESHAPE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DURING THE SHUTDOWN
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., accused Republicans of not taking the shutdown seriously and are "refusing to address the health care crisis they created." (J. Scott Applewhite/The Associated Press )
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., accused Republicans of not taking the shutdown seriously and are "refusing to address the health care crisis they created."
"It's past time to get it done," Schumer told reporters Tuesday.
On Wednesday, Senate Democrats did not get on board with Republicans' temporary spending bill during a sixth vote resulting in the government staying shuttered.
The White House said in a Wednesday statement to Fox News Digital that every shutdown comes with consequences and that Democrats "simply" voted to reopen the government.
"Whether it’s our brave military members working without pay, business owners missing out on previously promised contract work, or families dealing with flight delays, everyone is paying the price for the Democrats’ radical demands," White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said.
Fox News’ Alex Miller contributed to this report.
Diana Stancy is a politics reporter with Fox News Digital covering the White House.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/white-house-escalates-shutdown-consequences-democrats-show-no-signs-budging-kamikaze-attack