Trump Hails ‘Big Victory’ as Shutdown Deal Nears Vote

US President Donald Trump

President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed a “very big victory” as Congress moved closer to ending the longest government shutdown in US history, while Democrats faced growing internal rifts over the compromise deal.

The House of Representatives is expected to vote on Wednesday on a spending package to end the six-week shutdown, following Monday’s Senate vote in which eight Democrats sided with Republicans to push the bill forward.

Speaking during a Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, Trump paused his remarks to congratulate Republican leaders.

“Congratulations to you and to John and to everybody on a very big victory,” he said, addressing House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune in the audience.

“We’re opening up our country—it should have never been closed,” Trump added, breaking with presidential tradition by turning a solemn occasion into a moment of political celebration.

Later, Trump told reporters he expected the Republican-controlled House to pass the bill, which would fund the government through January. “Only people who hate our country want to see it not open,” he said.

Mounting pressure on Democrats

Although top Democrats have vowed to oppose the bill, it is likely to pass with a simple majority—one the Republicans narrowly hold.

From the beginning, Trump had refused to compromise on Democrats’ demands for extended healthcare subsidies, allowing the shutdown’s impact to grow. Around one million federal workers went without pay, food aid for low-income families came under strain, and air travel was severely disrupted as the Thanksgiving holiday approached.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned on Tuesday that the situation could worsen if the shutdown persisted. “You’re going to have airlines that make serious calculations about whether they continue to fly, full stop,” he told reporters at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport.

Public frustration has grown, with recent polls showing more Americans blaming Trump’s party for the prolonged standoff. However, Monday’s Senate vote gave Republicans the edge they needed to move forward without major concessions.

Democratic divisions deepen

The deal has exposed fractures within the Democratic Party, with many senior figures arguing that leaders surrendered too early.

“Pathetic,” California Governor Gavin Newsom, a potential 2028 presidential contender, posted on X, criticising the compromise.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who opposed the bill but failed to unite his caucus, now faces calls from some Democrats to step aside.

The internal dissent came just days after strong Democratic performances in local elections across New York, New Jersey, and Virginia—seen as a setback for Trump’s Republicans.

While Republicans have promised to allow a separate vote on health insurance subsidies, millions of Americans could see their “Obamacare” premiums double if no extension is reached soon.

The healthcare issue is also stirring unease within Trump’s own “Make America Great Again” movement. On Monday, Trump publicly criticised former ally Marjorie Taylor Greene after she condemned the potential premium hikes as “disgusting,” saying she had “lost her way.”

As the House prepares for a final vote, both parties face political risks—Republicans over voter anger at the shutdown’s economic toll, and Democrats over growing divisions that threaten to weaken their message heading into the 2026 midterm elections.