Did Trump cave to Fox News over the shutdown?
As goes Ann Coulter, so goes President Trump?
After the White House signaled earlier this week that Trump would likely back away from his demand for $5 billion in border wall funding to prevent a partial government shutdown, the president on Thursday afternoon said the demand is back on. He's refusing to sign a stopgap spending bill that would prevent a shutdown because it doesn't have the border wall funding he has demanded.
This comes after Trump was being hammered within conservative media for seeming open to passing the bill without wall funding in it. Conservative commentator Ann Coulter was particularly harsh on Wednesday, suggesting Trump may have "scammed the American people" and theorizing his campaign pledge to build the wall was a lie. Trump, clearly, saw her comments, as he unfollowed her on Twitter shortly after.
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.
She was hardly alone. As pointed out by CNN's Oliver Darcy, Breitbart declared Wednesday that Trump had caved on the wall, while Drudge Report ran with the headline "Trump in Retreat." Rush Limbaugh was similarly frustrated, saying per The Hill that if Trump signs the stopgap spending bill, he "gets nothing and the Democrats get everything."
On Fox News, the assessment wasn't any less dire. The hosts of Fox & Friends on Wednesday described the "stunning turn of events," with host Steve Doocy saying, "Democrats will win everything they want," per The Daily Beast. This was the sentiment all over the network, and a panelist during an Outnumbered segment Thursday concluded, "The president is getting steamrolled," per Mediaite.
This all seems to have really gotten to Trump. CNN's Kaitlan Collins reported earlier on Thursday that the president was becoming "very sensitive" to criticism in the conservative media. His decision not to sign the Senate bill came hours later.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
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
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
'Horror stories of women having to carry nonviable fetuses'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Haiti interim council, prime minister sworn in
Speed Read Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigns amid surging gang violence
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - April 26, 2024
Cartoons Friday's cartoons - teleprompter troubles, presidential immunity, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Ukraine cheers House approval of military aid
Speed Read Following a lengthy struggle, the House has approved $95 billion in aid for Ukraine and Israel
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Poland, Germany nab alleged anti-Ukraine spies
Speed Read A man was arrested over a supposed Russian plot to kill Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel hits Iran with retaliatory airstrike
Speed Read The attack comes after Iran's drone and missile barrage last weekend
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Peter Murrell: Sturgeon's husband charged over SNP 'embezzlement' claims
Speed Read SNP expresses 'shock' as former chief executive rearrested in long-running investigation into claims of mishandled campaign funds
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Mark Menzies: Tories investigate MP after 'bad people' cash claims
Speed Read Fylde MP will sit as an independent while party looks into allegations he misused campaign funds on medical expenses and blackmail pay-out
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Why Johnson won't just pass Ukraine aid
Speed Read The House Speaker could have sent $60 billion in military aid to Ukraine — but it would have split his caucus
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sudan on brink of collapse after a year of war
Speed Read 18 million people face famine as the country continues its bloody downward spiral
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump's first criminal trial starts with jury picks
Speed Read The former president faces charges related to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published