Mick Mulvaney rips Democrats over budget debate: 'They wanted a shutdown'
White House budget director Mick Mulvaney took the podium at Tuesday's press briefing to blast Democrats for pushing back on President Trump's "tremendous" budget proposal. "They wanted a shutdown," Mulvaney said of Democrats. "We know that. They were desperate to make this administration look like we couldn't function, like we couldn't govern."
Despite Democrats' bad behavior, Mulvaney claimed Trump "out-negotiated" them anyway. Mulvaney insisted the bill that Congress agreed on late Sunday to fund the government through September contains no "new money" for Puerto Rico, no renewable energy subsidies, and no "ObamaCare bailout money," all of which Democrats wanted. Unlike the Democrats, Mulvaney said Trump "delivered on his promises and got his priorities funded," including more money for defense, border security, and school choice. The bill does not include funding for a new border wall, among other priorities Trump had promised.
When pushed by reporters on why — if Democrats were the ones who wanted the shutdown — Trump tweeted earlier Tuesday that the country "needs a good 'shutdown' in September," Mulvaney dismissed the tweet as venting. Mulvaney suggested that Trump is "frustrated" with Democrats who "went out there to spike the football and make him look bad."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Mulvaney warned that if Democrats "aren't going to behave any better" come September, when the funding bill expires, then a shutdown just might be "inevitable." Catch a snippet of Mulvaney's impassioned remarks below. Becca Stanek
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
The new powers to stop stalking in the UK
The Explainer Updated guidance could help protect more victims, but public is losing trust in police and battered criminal justice system
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Criminal trail?'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
Grindr 'shared user HIV status' with ad firms, lawsuit claims
Speed Read LGBTQ dating app accused of breaching UK data protection laws in case filed at London's High Court
By Rebecca Messina, The Week UK Published
-
Empty-nest boomers aren't selling their big homes
Speed Read Most Americans 60 and older do not intend to move, according to a recent survey
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Brazil accuses Musk of 'disinformation campaign'
Speed Read A Brazilian Supreme Court judge has opened an inquiry into Elon Musk and X
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Disney board fends off Peltz infiltration bid
Speed Read Disney CEO Bob Iger has defeated activist investor Nelson Peltz in a contentious proxy battle
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Disney and DeSantis reach detente
Speed Read The Florida governor and Disney settle a yearslong litigation over control of the tourism district
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Visa and Mastercard agree to lower swipe fees
Speed Read The companies will cap the fees they charge businesses when customers use their credit cards
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Reddit IPO values social media site at $6.4 billion
Speed Read The company makes its public debut on the New York Stock Exchange
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Housing costs: the root of US economic malaise?
speed read Many voters are troubled by the housing affordability crisis
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Feds cap credit card late fees at $8
speed read The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finalized a rule to save households an estimated $10 billion a year
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published