Trump complicates Speaker Johnson’s plan to avoid government shutdown

Former President Trump is adding another layer of complication to the government funding fight as Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) plots his next step to address the looming shutdown deadline. 

Trump for months has called on Republicans to pair a bill requiring proof of citizenship to vote with a stopgap measure to keep the government open past Sept. 30. The Speaker attempted to bring up a bill pairing that policy measure with a six-month funding extension this week — only to be stopped in his tracks by a wall of GOP opposition that crossed ideological lines. 

As a result, Johnson punted a scheduled vote Wednesday. 

As Republican opposition to the stopgap grew this week, Trump chimed in to up the ante on his request and threatened a government shutdown.

“If Republicans in the House, and Senate, don’t get absolute assurances on Election Security, THEY SHOULD, IN NO WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM, GO FORWARD WITH A CONTINUING RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.