President Trump: 'The buck stops with everybody'


Every president needs a signature phrase that defines their presidency, and President Trump may have just found his.
On Thursday, 19 days into the government shutdown, a reporter asked Trump if "the buck stops with you over this shutdown." "The buck stops with everybody," Trump responded, potentially launching a copyright suit from former President Harry Truman's estate.
Trump may have popularized expressions such as "build the wall" and "make America great again," but this new phrase truly stands out. It reflects Trump's continued insistence that Democrats are unwilling to bend on his border wall demands and reopen the government, despite Trump saying he'd own the shutdown last month.
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.
Perhaps the most important quality of Trump's newfound aphorism is that it defies explanation, seeing as a singular buck cannot stop with multiple people. Perhaps Trump should stick with "We're America, B--ch."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
Quiz of The Week: 26 July – 1 August
Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
-
Uttar Pradesh: from a once-in-a-generation festival to tiger tracking in an ancient forest
The Week Recommends Soak up the state's rich culture on one of Explorations Company's specially curated tours
-
The Week Unwrapped: Could AI replace catwalk models?
Podcast Plus, should countries sue each other for climate damage? And what does Grand Theft Auto 6 tell us about the video game industry?
-
Harris rules out run for California governor
Speed Read The 2024 Democratic presidential nominee ended months of speculation about her plans for the contest
-
Trump sets new tariff rates as deadline nears
Speed Read New tariff rates for South Korea, Brazil and India announced
-
Ghislaine Maxwell: angling for a Trump pardon
Talking Point Convicted sex trafficker's testimony could shed new light on president's links to Jeffrey Epstein
-
Senate confirms Trump loyalist Bove to top court
Speed Read The president's former criminal defense lawyer was narrowly approved to earn a lifetime seat
-
Ghislaine Maxwell offers testimony for immunity
Speed Read The convicted sex trafficker offered to testify to Congress about her relationship with late boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein
-
Judge halts GOP defunding of Planned Parenthood
Speed Read The Trump administration can't withhold Medicaid funds from Planned Parenthood, said the ruling
-
Trump contradicts Israel, says 'starvation' in Gaza
Speed Read The president suggests Israel could be doing more to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians
-
Trump executive order targets homeless
Speed Read It will now be easier for states and cities to remove homeless people from the streets