Trump spent Saturday watching old clips of him berating Obama for lack of leadership during 2013 shutdown

  • The U.S. government shut down at 12.01am on Saturday due to politicians' failure to pass a budget
  • The Republicans and Democrats could not agree on immigration concessions or funding for Trump's much vaunted Mexican wall
  • Shutdown prompted him to cancel appearance at planned party with $100,000-per-couple fee to celebrate his first year in office at Mar-a-Lago
  • He apparently took to watching clips of himself appearing on shows back in 2013 when he chastised his predecessor, Barack Obama, for that year's shutdown
  • Trump said on appearances that a government shutdown is the president's fault

President Trump spent his Saturday watching old television appearances of himself chastising Barack Obama for the 2013 shutdown in an effort to cheer himself up, claims the New York Times.

Chastened by the government shutdown occurring on the first anniversary of his inauguration as president, Trump was also frustrated at being unable to attend a $100k-a-head fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago to mark the occasion.

In addition, Trump witnessed the second Women's March, with hundreds of thousands of activists and celebrities speaking out against the president.

The president spent the day holed up in the White House, taking to Twitter intermittently to attack the Democrats and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, even finding the time to send a tweet in dubious support of the marches.

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 The White House issued this photo of Donald Trump working the phones in the Oval Office on Saturday night

 The White House issued this photo of Donald Trump working the phones in the Oval Office on Saturday night

Trump discusses the Obama-era shutdown on Sean Hannity's show in 2013. Trump told the Fox News host that the president should always shoulder the blame for a government shutdown

Trump discusses the Obama-era shutdown on Sean Hannity's show in 2013. Trump told the Fox News host that the president should always shoulder the blame for a government shutdown

Trump tweeted multiple times throughout Saturday and on Sunday morning tweeted another criticism of Democrats

Trump tweeted multiple times throughout Saturday and on Sunday morning tweeted another criticism of Democrats

Trump tweeted at 7.35am Sunday: 'Great to see how hard Republicans are fighting for our Military and Safety at the Border. The Dems just want illegal immigrants to pour into our nation unchecked. If stalemate continues, Republicans should go to 51% (Nuclear Option) and vote on real, long term budget, no C.R.’s!'

Barack Obama is pictured in New York City in September 2017

Trump apparently spent much of his day watching old television appearances of his in which he castigated his predecessor, Barack Obama, with regard to the 2013 government shutdown

Some of the videos Trump watched might have showed him saying that the president should always shoulder the blame for a government shutdown. 

During the last shutdown in 2013, Trump told Fox News that the responsibility for the shutdown rested with then-President Barack Obama.

Back then, the federal government ceased operations for a total of 16 days.

Trump appeared on the Fox News Channel multiple times and was asked who was at fault.

'Well, if you say who gets fired it always has to be the top,' Trump told Fox & Friends in 2013.

'I mean, problems start from the top and they have to get solved from the top and the president's the leader.

'And he's got to get everybody in a room and he's got to lead.'

Trump said that from a historical standpoint, 'when they talk about the government shutdown, they're going to be talking about the president of the United States, who the president was at that time'.

'They're not going to be talking about who was the head of the House, the head the Senate, who's running things in Washington.

'So I really think the pressure is on the president.'

Trump issued a series of tweets about the shutdown and the women's marches across the country on Saturday, January 20. The day marked the one-year anniversary of Trump's presidency

Trump issued a series of tweets about the shutdown and the women's marches across the country on Saturday, January 20. The day marked the one-year anniversary of Trump's presidency

Faced with his own shutdown, Trump has apparently said in private that he should not be blamed for the shutdown but rather was stymied by Democrats' perceived refusal to work with him.

Meanwhile, the governor of New York and the governor of Arizona have vowed to keep certain national monuments open during the shutdown. The National Park Service closes most of its 417 'units' during a shutdown. 

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said Saturday that he would use state funds to keep the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island - together comprising the Statue of Liberty National Monument - open. The National Park Service announced that both New York sites would be closed Saturday 'due to a lapse in appropriations'. They were also closed on Sunday.

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey said Grand Canyon National Park would continue full operations despite the shutdown.

'If Washington, D.C., won’t function, Arizona will,' Ducey said in a statement.

'Democrats are far more concerned with Illegal Immigrants than they are with our great Military or Safety at our dangerous Southern Border. They could have easily made a deal but decided to play Shutdown politics instead. #WeNeedMoreRepublicansIn18 in order to power through mess!,' reads one Trump tweet from Saturday.

'This is the One Year Anniversary of my Presidency and the Democrats wanted to give me a nice present. #DemocratShutdown,' reads another.

One Saturday tweet that he then retweeted again late Saturday or early Sunday reads: 'Democrats are holding our Military hostage over their desire to have unchecked illegal immigration. Can’t let that happen!'

He also tweeted about his son Eric's appearance on Fox News on Saturday night and retweeted other coverage from the conservative channel.

Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York pledged to keep the Statue of Liberty open during the shutdown
He also pledged to keep Ellis Island open. Both monuments are under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service. Both were closed on Saturday

Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York pledged to keep the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island open during the shutdown. Both monuments are under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service. Both were closed on Saturday

Arizona's governor also pledged to keep Grand Canyon National Park (stock photo) open

Arizona's governor also pledged to keep Grand Canyon National Park (stock photo) open

Governor Cuomo is pictured holding a Sunday press conference, at which he said the state would pick up the tab for federal workers to resume operating the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island beginning on Monday

Governor Cuomo is pictured holding a Sunday press conference, at which he said the state would pick up the tab for federal workers to resume operating the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island beginning on Monday

Trump also spent part of Saturday speaking with Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis about how the shutdown will affect border security.

He also spoke with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy. 

The shutdown was prompted by the government's failure to pass a budget and has been blamed more broadly on the battle over immigration policy - with Democrats in favor of protecting young immigrants under an Obama-era measure called DACA and Republicans against.

A hardline stance on illegal immigration was one of the major promises Trump made on the campaign trail. 

Trump and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer apparently worked out a compromise deal on Friday that included funding for Trump's border wall and an extension of legal status to so-called dreamers.

But Trump aides later refuted such deal-making - despite a Friday tweet from Trump referring to his meeting with Schumer as 'excellent'.

'Negotiating with President Trump is like negotiating with Jell-O,' Schumer said from the Senate floor. 

Meanwhile, Trump's team released a new advertisement on Saturday that calls Democrats 'complicit' in any future murders committed by immigrants who are in the country illegally.

'President Trump is right - build the wall, deport criminals, stop immigration now,' the advertisement says over clips of Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer and Representative Nancy Pelosi.

'Democrats who stand in our way will be complicit in every murder committed by illegal immigrants.' 

Trump's team titled the ad 'Complicit'. 

The Senate met at noon on Saturday to try to come to a potential solution, but was not able to do so. 

The lawmakers are adjourned until Monday. 

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN: WHAT'S CLOSED? WHO IS AFFECTED?

The federal government shutdown only partially curbs operations. But the longer the shutdown continues, the more likely its impact will be felt.

U.S. troops will stay at their posts and mail will get delivered, but almost half of the 2 million civilian federal workers will be barred from doing their jobs if the shutdown extends into Monday.

How key parts of the federal government would be affected by a shutdown:

A general view of The United States Capitol is seen in Washington Friday as the shutdown begins

A general view of The United States Capitol is seen in Washington Friday as the shutdown begins

INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE

A shutdown plan posted on the Treasury Department's website shows that nearly 44 percent of the IRS' 80,565 employees will be exempt from being furloughed during a shutdown. That would mean nearly 45,500 IRS employees will be sent home just as the agency is preparing for the start of the tax filing season and ingesting the sweeping changes made by the new GOP tax law.

The Republican architects of the tax law have promised that millions of working Americans will see heftier paychecks next month, with less money withheld by employers in anticipation of lower income taxes. The IRS recently issued new withholding tables for employers.

But Marcus Owens, who for 10 years headed the IRS division dealing with charities and political organizations, said it's a 'virtual certainty' that the larger paychecks will be delayed if there's a lengthy government shutdown.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT

Half of the more than 80,000 employees will be sent home. Key programs will continue to function because their funding has ongoing authorization and doesn't depend on annual approval by Congress. But critical disruptions could occur across the vast jurisdiction of HHS programs — including the seasonal flu program.

Medicare, which insures nearly 59 million seniors and disabled people, will keep going. And so will Medicaid, which covers more than 74 million low-income and disabled people, including most nursing home residents.

States will continue to receive payments for the Children's Health Insurance Program, which covers about 9 million kids. However, long-term funding for the program will run out soon unless Congress acts to renew it.

Deep into a tough flu season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be unable to support the government's annual seasonal flu program. And CDC's ability to respond to disease outbreaks will be significantly reduced.

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT

Many of the nearly 115,000 Justice Department employees have national security and public safety responsibilities that allow them to keep working during a shutdown. Special counsel Robert Mueller's team investigating Russian meddling in the presidential election will also continue working. His office is paid for indefinitely.

The more than 95,000 employees who are 'exempted' include most of the members of the national security division, U.S. attorneys, and most of the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Marshals Service and federal prison employees. Criminal cases will continue, but civil cases will be postponed as long as doing so doesn't compromise public safety. Most law enforcement training will be canceled, per the department's contingency plan.

A United States Capitol Police Officer sets up police tape and gates on the plaza of the The United States Capitol Building Friday

A United States Capitol Police Officer sets up police tape and gates on the plaza of the The United States Capitol Building Friday

STATE DEPARTMENT

Many State Department operations will continue in a shutdown. Passport and visa processing, which are largely self-funded by consumer fees, will not shut down. The agency's main headquarters in Washington, in consultation with the nearly 300 embassies, consulates and other diplomatic missions around the world, will draw up lists of nonessential employees who will be furloughed.

Department operations will continue through the weekend and staffers will be instructed to report for work as usual on Monday to find out whether they have been furloughed.

DEFENSE DEPARTMENT

The U.S. military will continue to fight wars and conduct missions around the world, including in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. And members of the military will report to work, though they won't get paid until Congress approves funding.

But Defense Secretary Jim Mattis warned Friday that a shutdown will have far-reaching effects.

'Our maintenance activities will probably pretty much shut down,' he said during remarks at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. 'We do a lot of intelligence operations around the world, and they cost money. Those, obviously, would stop. And I would just tell you that training for almost our entire reserve force will stop.'

And, while ships will remain at sea and airstrikes against enemy fighters will continue, any National Guard forces heading out to do weekend training duty around the country will arrive at armories and be told to go home.

US INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES

The workforce at the 17 U.S. intelligence agencies will be pared down significantly, according to a person familiar with contingency procedures.

The official, who was not authorized to publicly discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity, said employees who are considered essential and have to work will do so with no expectation of a regular paycheck.

While they can be kept on the job, federal workers can't be paid for days worked during a shutdown. In the past, however, they have been paid retroactively even if they were ordered to stay home.

HOMELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT

A department spokesman said nearly 90 percent of Homeland Security employees are considered essential and will continue to perform their duties during a government shutdown.

That means most Customs and Border Protection and Transportation Security Administration workers will stay on the job, according to the department's shutdown plan, dated Friday.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement will be staffed at about 78 percent, meaning more than 15,000 of the agency's employees will keep working. The Secret Service, also part of Homeland Security, will retain more than 5,700 employees during the shutdown.  

INTERIOR DEPARTMENT

The Interior Department says national parks and other public lands will remain as accessible as possible. That position is a change from previous shutdowns, when most parks were closed and became high-profile symbols of dysfunction.

Spokeswoman Heather Swift said the American public — especially veterans who come to the nation's capital — should find war memorials and open-air parks available to visitors. Swift said many national parks and wildlife refuges nationwide will also be open with limited access when possible.

She said public roads that already are open are likely to remain open, though services that require staffing and maintenance such as campgrounds, full-service restrooms and concessions won't be operating. Backcountry lands and culturally sensitive sites are likely to be restricted or closed, she said.

TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT

More than half — 34,600 — of the Department of Transportation's 55,100 employees will continue working during a shutdown. The bulk of those staying on the job work for the Federal Aviation Administration, which operates the nation's air traffic control system.

Controllers and aviation, pipeline and railroad safety inspectors are among those who would continue to work.

But certification of new aircraft will be limited, and processing of airport construction grants, training of new controllers, registration of planes, air traffic control modernization research and development, and issuance of new pilot licenses and medical certificates will stop.

At the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, investigations on auto safety defects will be suspended, incoming information on possible defects from manufacturers and consumers won't be reviewed and compliance testing of vehicles and equipment will be delayed.

The Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, whose operations are mostly paid for out of the Federal Highway Trust Fund, will continue most of their functions. The fund's revenue comes from federal gas and diesel taxes, which will continue to be collected. But work on issuing new regulations will stop throughout the department and its nine agencies.

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the agency's infectious disease chief, said a government shutdown will be disruptive to research and morale at the National Institutes of Health but will not adversely affect patients already in medical studies.

'We still take care of them,' he said of current NIH patients. But other types of research would be seriously harmed, Fauci said.

A shutdown could mean interrupting research that's been going on for years, Fauci said. The NIH is the government's primary agency responsible for biomedical and public health research across 27 institutes and centers. Its research ranges from cancer studies to the testing and creation of vaccines.

'You can't push the pause button on an experiment,' he said.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt has instructed workers there to come to work next week even with a shutdown. Pruitt said in an email to all EPA employees on Friday that the agency had 'sufficient resources to remain open for a limited amount of time.' He said further instructions would come if the shutdown lasts for more than a week.

The instructions from Pruitt are different from how the agency has operated during prior shutdowns and the contingency plan posted on EPA's website. A spokesman for the agency said earlier on Friday that the December 2017 plan was no longer valid. 

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NPS closes most national parks during government shutdowns. The agency controls 417 different 'units' from American Samoa to Maine. Of these 417 'units', 59 are national parks.

State parks and trails in certain national parks still remain open during government shutdowns. 

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said Saturday that he would use state funds to keep the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island - together comprising the Statue of Liberty National Monument - open. The National Park Service announced that both New York sites would be closed Saturday 'due to a lapse in appropriations'. 

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey said Grand Canyon National Park would continue full operations despite the shutdown.

'If Washington, D.C., won’t function, Arizona will,' Ducey said in a statement. 

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CONGRESS HAS SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT: NOW WHAT?

The US government shutdown began at midnight Friday as Democrats and Republicans failed to resolve a standoff over immigration and spending. Here's a look at what the parties are fighting over and what it means to shut down the government.

WHAT ARE LAWMAKERS FIGHTING ABOUT?

Since the end of the fiscal year in September, the government has been operating on temporary funding measures. The current one expired at midnight. Republicans and Democrats have not been able to agree on spending levels for the rest of the year, so another short-term measure is the most likely solution. The House has passed a four-week bill Thursday that also extends funding for a children's health insurance program.

But Democrats have been saying for weeks they want a funding measure to be tied to an immigration deal that protects the thousands of young immigrants facing deportation. The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program is set to expire March 5, and members of both parties have been working on an extension that would also beef up border protection.

That deal has not come together, and Democrats have decided to dig in. They blocked the House-passed bill. Both sides were still negotiating early Saturday. 

Shutdown: Police tape marks a secured area of the Capitol, Friday in Washington

Shutdown: Police tape marks a secured area of the Capitol, Friday in Washington

THEY'VE BLOWN THE DEADLINE. NOW WHAT? 

The government begins to shut down. But not all of the government.

The air traffic control system, food inspection, Medicare, veterans' health care and many other essential government programs will run as usual. The Social Security Administration will not only send out benefits but will also continue to take applications — though replacements for lost Social Security cards could have to wait. The Postal Service, which is self-funded, will keep delivering the mail. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will continue to respond to last year's spate of disasters.

The Interior Department says national parks and other public lands will remain as accessible as possible. The stance is a change from previous shutdowns when most parks were closed and became high-profile symbols.

Spokeswoman Heather Swifts says the American public — especially veterans who come to the nation's capital — should find war memorials and open-air parks open to visitors. Swift says many national parks and wildlife refuges nationwide will also be open with limited access when possible.

The Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo will stay open through the weekend but close Monday. 

DO FEDERAL WORKERS GET PAID?

While they can be kept on the job, federal workers can't get paid for days worked during a lapse in funding. In the past, however, they have been repaid retroactively even if they were ordered to stay home.

Rush hour in downtown Washington, meanwhile, becomes a breeze. Tens of thousands of federal workers are off the roads. 

HOW OFTEN DID THIS HAPPEN IN THE PAST?

Way back in the day, shutdowns usually weren't that big a deal. They happened every year when Jimmy Carter was president, averaging 11 days each. During Ronald Reagan's two terms, there were six shutdowns, typically just one or two days apiece. Deals got cut. Everybody moved on.

The last one was a 16-day partial shuttering of the government in 2013, which came as tea party conservatives, cheered on by outside groups like Heritage Action, demanded that language to block implementation of President Barack Obama's health care law be added to a must-do funding bill.

WHO WILL GET THE BLAME?

In a 1995-96 political battle, President Bill Clinton bested House Speaker Newt Gingrich and his band of budget-slashing conservatives, who were determined to use a shutdown to force Clinton to sign onto a balanced budget agreement. Republicans were saddled with the blame, but most Americans suffered relatively minor inconveniences like closed parks and delays in processing passport applications. The fight bolstered Clinton's popularity and he sailed to re-election that November.

In 2013, the tea party Republicans forced the shutdown over the better judgment of GOP leaders like then-Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio. Republicans tried to fund the government piecemeal — for example, by forcing through legislation to ensure military service members got paid. But a broader effort faltered, and Republicans eventually backed down and supported a round of budget talks led by Paul Ryan, R-Wis., then chairman of the House Budget Committee.

Republicans are calling the current standoff the 'Schumer Shutdown,' arguing that there's nothing in the bill that Democrats oppose, while a short-term extension would give lawmakers time to work out differences on issues like protecting young immigrants and disaster assistance. Schumer says the GOP's unwillingness to compromise has brought Congress to this point. A Washington Post-ABC News poll conducted earlier this week found 48 percent view Trump and congressional Republicans as mainly responsible for the situation while 28 percent fault Democrats. If the shutdown drags on for long, it could give voters another reason to turn away from incumbents of both parties in a mid-term election.

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