By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Deep mistrust among Senate Democrats towards President Trump has caused them to reject a proposal to reopen the government. Democrats are hesitant because of concerns that Trump will not act in good faith to extend health insurance subsidies or stop firing federal workers. Senate Democrats have expressed doubt that Trump will adhere to any agreement, citing past instances where he has undermined bipartisan negotiations and refused to cooperate with Democratic leaders. Republicans are now struggling to secure the necessary votes to end the shutdown due to this lack of trust.
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Deal to reopen government falters over Democrats’ distrust of Trump, and honestly, can you blame them? It seems like this whole situation is less about a failure to reach an agreement and more about a deeply ingrained lack of trust stemming from the history between the Democrats and former President Trump.
Why would Democrats trust someone with a well-documented pattern of dishonesty? It’s like asking someone to walk willingly into a trap they know is there. The “trust me bro” approach just doesn’t fly when you’re dealing with someone who has consistently broken their word, reneged on deals, and shown a blatant disregard for commitments made.
Consider this: would you enter a new job based solely on a promise to discuss your compensation sometime down the line? It’s absurd. Democrats are essentially in the same position, refusing to sign onto anything that doesn’t provide concrete, guaranteed outcomes. They’re not just being stubborn; they’re being realistic.
The history here is important. Trump has a long track record of making promises and then immediately going back on them, even after a deal was struck. Remember the last time they made ‘concessions’ only to have Trump immediately renege on it? It seems the Democrats aren’t keen on being tricked twice. Now, they’re understandably insisting on including requirements within the full appropriation bills, a measure designed to prevent Trump from pulling that same move again.
The phrase “trust me bro” is not a reliable strategy for getting cooperation from Democrats. They are holding firm because they know the Republicans cannot be trusted and this is not a negotiation, it is a farce. The Democrats are not being unreasonable; they’re simply refusing to be taken advantage of.
And let’s not pretend the rest of the Republican Party doesn’t play a role in this distrust. Democrats seem to believe they would only be used as pawns in a Republican play. The inability of Republicans to reopen the government is their failure, not that of the Democrats.
The issue isn’t a lack of willingness to negotiate; it’s a lack of faith in the person on the other side of the table. How can you negotiate in good faith when you know the other party is prone to lies? It’s an impossible situation.
The Democrats are aware of the situation and they are unwilling to budge. The only things that will lead to the government reopening is the reinforcement of ACA subsidies. It’s not a question of personalities; it’s a question of recognizing a pattern of behavior and acting accordingly.
Furthermore, Republicans cannot guarantee that Trump will stop freezing funds or using pocket rescissions to claw back appropriated monies. The Democrats aren’t being difficult; they are being wise.
It is simple, Trump needs to honor the deal or the government stays shut down. It’s a choice, a simple choice.
The Democrats are the ones that have to make the decision. Trump and the Republicans have to go through the necessary measures to get the government reopened.