Hours before the start of a federal government shutdown, President-elect Donald Trump doubled-down Friday on his insistence that a debt ceiling increase be included in any deal — and if not, let the closures “start now.”

Watch White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre’s news briefing in the player above.

Trump, who is not yet even sworn into the White House, issued his latest demand as House Speaker Mike Johnson arrived early at the Capitol, instantly holing up with some of the most conservative Republicans in the House Freedom Caucus who helped sink Trump’s bill in a spectacular Thursday evening flop. The clock is now racing toward the midnight deadline to fund government operations.

“If there is going to be a shutdown of government, let it begin now,” Trump posted on social media.

  • hopesdead@startrek.website
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    6 days ago

    Is Trump doing anything legal at this point? I genuinely want to know if his existence is a walking case of law breaking.

  • DarkFuture@lemmy.world
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    7 days ago

    We voted for failure and decline. That’s what we’re going to get.

    I’d like to personally laugh in the face of every federal worker that was stupid enough to vote for Donald Trump.

    • themeatbridge@lemmy.world
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      7 days ago

      The debt is because we allow oligarchs to write the budget. They line their pockets, and then borrow money to pay for necessary services. It’s a ponzi scheme that leaves our children holding the bag, which is why they are hoarding wealth and desperate to eliminate all inheritance taxes.

    • danekrae@lemmy.world
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      7 days ago

      The debt is “free money” when it’s their suggestion, and “we’re selling out america” when it’s not.

  • Nyxicas@kbin.melroy.org
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    7 days ago

    This is coming from a guy who’s out to dismantle the same government agencies outright.

    So which is it, asshole? Fund them or dismantle them? Pick.

    Tired of these old farts…

  • shoulderoforion@fedia.io
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    7 days ago

    he’s shutting down the government, until he and his republican congress take over, then he’ll act the conquering godking and revive it as if he were voldemort. dark brandon should have an oval office address on all the networks before the shutdown starts to say “bring it on motherfucker, everyone knows you’re calling for this, you want the smoke, you got it”