Sen. Angus King, a longtime independent who caucuses with Democrats, recently admitted on MSNBC that the Democratic Party’s strategy for a government shutdown aimed at pressuring President Donald Trump and securing Obamacare subsidies has failed. The shutdown, now the longest in U.S. history, has created a prolonged period of government inaction and increased political tension. During an interview with MSNBC’s ‘Morning Joe,’ King criticized the shutdown strategy, stating it was ineffective in achieving its two primary goals: resisting Trump’s policies and securing Republican support for the extension of Obamacare subsidies. King, who has been a vocal supporter of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), argued that the shutdown not only failed to push the administration to negotiate but also amplified Trump’s power, particularly in areas such as SNAP benefits. ‘The shutdown actually gave him more power,’ he said, pointing to Trump’s recent executive actions on food assistance programs as evidence.
The shutdown began on October 1 when Democrats refused to approve a short-term spending bill proposed by Republicans, which would have kept the government running until November 21. Democrats demanded that this spending bill include provisions to extend the COVID-era subsidies for Obamacare, which were set to expire at the end of the year. However, Republicans rejected this demand, arguing that the subsidies were unrelated to the immediate fiscal concerns. This stalemate led to a government shutdown lasting over 40 days, with no resolution on the subsidies and significant disruptions to federal operations.
King, who has consistently voted with Democratic lawmakers on major issues, admitted that the shutdown was not working and that it was a ‘record 40-day impasse.’ He stated that the strategy was flawed from the beginning, with no realistic chance of achieving the desired outcomes. ‘There was zero likelihood that the shutdown plan would have worked,’ he told MSNBC host Joe Scarborough. According to King, the shutdown not only failed to advance the interests of the party but also provided Trump with an opportunity to assert more control over federal programs, including SNAP benefits, which has raised concerns among Democrats about the long-term consequences of the strategy.
Despite the failure of the shutdown strategy, the Senate approved a short-term spending package on Sunday, which would keep the government open until January 30, 2026. Republican lawmakers did not make any significant concessions on the Obamacare subsidies, which were a central demand of the Democratic strategy. This outcome has led to internal tensions within the Democratic Party, as some members have questioned whether the shutdown was a necessary move or if it will ultimately harm the party’s standing. King, however, emphasized that the decision to end the shutdown was pragmatic, acknowledging that the strategy was not yielding results and that the party needed to move forward.
The shutdown has sparked debates about the effectiveness of political brinkmanship in modern American politics. Analysts argue that the strategy, while intended to force Republicans into negotiations, has backfired by deepening partisan divides and reducing the credibility of the Democratic Party’s position. Additionally, the prolonged shutdown has had economic consequences, including disruptions to government services and a potential impact on consumer confidence. As the situation moves toward resolution, the long-term effects of the shutdown on both the political landscape and the economy remain uncertain, with some fearing that the Democratic Party may have made a strategic misstep that could influence future elections and policy outcomes.