Trump compares Democrats to kamikaze pilots amid government shutdown
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President Donald Trump compared Democrats to Japanese kamikaze pilots who conducted suicide missions during World War II during the ongoing government shutdown.
Trump’s remarks came on the heels of his trip to Asia, where he visited Japan and the government shutdown lasted 36 days; This was the longest shutdown in US history.
“I think they are kamikaze pilots,” Trump told Republican senators at breakfast at the White House on Wednesday. “I just got back from Japan and I was talking about kamikaze pilots. I think these guys are kamikaze. They’ll destroy the country if they have to.”
Trump also said he didn’t think Democrats were taking enough blame for their role in the shutdown.
DEMOCRATS FACE A HUGE DISADVANTAGE ON SHUTDOWN WHEN TRUMP STARTS CUTTING HIS PROGRAMS.
President Donald Trump speaks with Senate and House Republicans during breakfast in the State Dining Room of the White House on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Trump said the government should reopen soon, saying, “It was created by the Democrats, but I don’t think they really got the blame they should have.” he said.
The government ran out of funding due to an impasse between Republicans and Democrats in the Senate over a short-term funding bill that would fund the government through November 21, resulting in a partial shutdown on October 1.
The stalemate between Republicans and Democrats stems from health care provisions in a potential funding measure. Trump and Republicans argue that Democrats want to provide health care to illegal immigrants and are pushing a provision that would repeal a portion of Trump’s tax and domestic policy bill, known as the “big, beautiful bill,” that reduces Medicaid eligibility for non-U.S. citizens.
President Donald Trump, along with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, speaks with military members aboard the USS George Washington, an aircraft carrier docked at the American naval base in Yokosuka, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
TRUMP REVERSED THE SHUTDOWN APPROACH, LEAVING CONGRESS TO REMOVE IT.
But Democrats say that’s not the case and say they want to permanently extend Affordable Care Act subsidies, which are set to expire at the end of 2025.
Trump also cited the shutdown as the reason Republicans lost several key races on Tuesday, including the Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial elections.
SENATE REPUBLICANS PLAN FOR LONG-TERM FUND SAVINGS AS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN CONTINUES
“Exactly one year ago we had that big, beautiful victory,” Trump said. “But I thought after the press left we would have a discussion about what last night represented and what we should do about it, and also about the shutdown and how that relates to last night.”
“If you read the polls, I think the shutdown was a big factor. It was negative for Republicans, and that was a big factor as well,” Trump said.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (DY) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (DY) update reporters after face-to-face meetings with President Donald Trump and Republican leaders in Washington, Monday, September 29, 2025. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)
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Meanwhile, Senate Democrats on Tuesday refused to support Republicans’ temporary funding bill to reopen the government. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-Y) said his party is adamant that it will not support a measure that does not include an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies.
“Republicans’ only plan for health care seems to be to eliminate it and then tell working people to figure it out on their own,” Schumer said Tuesday. he said. “This is not a health care plan. This is cruel.”
