The President of the United States has not only threatened to shut down the government, but said just today that he would “love to see a shutdown.” Only two short weeks after accusing Democrats of holding American troops hostage by tying immigration issues to government spending bills, Trump is advocating shutting down the government to advance his own anti-immigrant agenda. Trump has previously threatened to shut down the government because he believes it would be good for him politically and to drive “change” in Washington. Remember, Republicans control everything. If the government does shut down, we know who to blame.

Today Trump said he’d “love to see a shutdown.”

Trump: “We’ll do a shutdown. And it’s worth it for our country. I’d love to see a shutdown if we don’t get this stuff taken care of.”

Trump: “I would shut it down over this issue. If we don't straighten out our border, we don't have a country. Without borders we don't have a country. So would I would shut it down over this issue? Yes.”

Trump thought a government shutdown over immigration would benefit him politically.

Washington Post: “Trump Tells Confidants That A Government Shutdown Might Be Good For Him”

Washington Post:  “President Trump has told confidants that a government shutdown could be good for him politically and is focusing on his hard-line immigration stance as a way to win back supporters unhappy with his outreach to Democrats this fall, according to people who have spoken with him recently.”

Trump and his top aides actually advocated for shutdowns to drive “change” in Washington.

Washington Post: “Trump raises prospect of government shutdown to leverage better budget for GOP in fall.”

Trump: “either elect more Republican Senators in 2018 or change the rules now to 51%. Our country needs a good ‘shutdown’ in September to fix mess!”

Mulvaney: “It's part of that overall drain the swamp mentality about Washington, D.C. This president is willing to think outside of the box and do things differently around here in order to change Washington. And if that comes to a shutdown in September, so be it.”