President Donald Trump on Tuesday accused Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats of “holding the entire federal government hostage” amid the ongoing shutdown, vowing that Republicans would not bow to what he called “extortion” over spending demands. Speaking during a lunch event in the White House Rose Garden, Trump criticized Democrats for refusing to pass a short-term continuing resolution that would reopen the government. “Chuck Schumer and the Senate Democrats need to vote for the clean, bipartisan CR and reopen our government,” Trump said. “They are the obstructionists. And the reason they’re doing it is because we’re doing so well — we’re doing well all over the world.”

The shutdown, now in its 21st day, began after Democrats rejected temporary funding over disputes involving immigration enforcement, border operations, and cuts to housing and climate programs. As hundreds of thousands of federal workers remain furloughed or unpaid, Trump has placed direct blame on Schumer, dubbing the stalemate “the Schumer shutdown.” The president mocked Schumer’s leadership and claimed he was “losing in all the polls,” even to progressive members like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Trump argued that Democrats were protecting “wasteful programs” his administration has sought to eliminate. Praising budget director Russell Vought, whom critics have nicknamed “Darth Vader,” Trump said, “He’s cutting Democrat priorities, and they’re never going to get them back.”

Calling on Democrats to “stop the madness,” Trump urged them to end the impasse, insisting the U.S. economy is thriving under his leadership. Republican lawmakers echoed his position, accusing Democrats of using the shutdown to block immigration reforms. Democrats countered that Trump was using the crisis to expand executive power and impose steep domestic spending cuts. With neither side willing to compromise, negotiations remain deadlocked, and federal agencies warn that key benefits and operations may soon be delayed.