US President Donald Trump declared victory on November 11 as an effort to end the longest-ever US government shutdown headed to a final vote and rival Democrats tore themselves apart over the deal.
The House of Representatives is set to vote on November 12 on a spending Bill to solve the six-week stand-off, after eight Democrats broke ranks in the Senate on Nov 10 to side with Trump’s Republicans.
During a Veterans Day speech at Arlington National Cemetery, Trump broke off to congratulate Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune.
“Congratulations to you and to John and to everybody on a very big victory,” Trump said as he spotted Johnson in the audience.
“We’re opening up our country – it should have never been closed,” added Trump, bucking US presidential tradition by using a ceremonial event to score political points.
Trump said later that he expected the Republican-controlled House to approve the Bill to fund the government through January. “Only people that hate our country want to see it not open,” he told ESPN.
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