During an interview with Lindell TV reporter Cara Castronuova, Trump was asked if Democrats would ever give him credit for ending the war between Russia and Ukraine. He said they would not because they are “mentally damaged.”
“I think right now, the Democrats are really damaged, mentally damaged,” Trump said. “They want to take 1.5 trillion, with a T, trillion dollars and give it to people that invaded our country. They came into our country illegally, from prisons, from mental institutions, gang members. They want to give them health care and take it away from our citizens. We’re not going to do that. $1.5 trillion. They want to destroy, they want to destroy our health care system. We’re not going to let that happen.”
Trump: “I think the Democrats are mentally damaged. They want to take $1.5t and give it to people that invaded our country. They came into our country illegally from prisons, mental institutions, gang members. They want to give them healthcare and take it away from our citizens.” pic.twitter.com/davdGARDuk
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 17, 2025
The government shut down at midnight on October 1 after Democrats refused to back a funding bill that left out $1.5 trillion for health care benefits for undocumented immigrants.
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Trump, never one to stay calm in a crisis, warned that he would make Democrats “pay” if they continued blocking the government’s reopening. Asked about job cuts and which agencies would be hit, he said, “It will be Democrat oriented because we figure, you know, they started this thing, so they should be Democrat oriented.” The comment drew quick criticism for sounding more like revenge than leadership.
Senate Democrats have since blocked several votes to fund the government, demanding taxpayer-supported health care for undocumented immigrants, money for PBS, and $1.5 trillion in new public spending.
At the same time, they are pointing the finger at Republicans for the shutdown, a political tug-of-war that leaves federal workers without pay and millions of Americans wondering who exactly is governing.
Trump’s latest remarks came during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, where he again tried to present himself as the world’s dealmaker. Reports say he is considering sending Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine through NATO, even as he keeps an open line with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Featured image via Political Tribune Gallery
