Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Oct 15: As the US government shutdown enters its second week, President Donald Trump on Tuesday revealed that a “very wealthy gentleman” has offered to cover the salaries of US troops if federal funding runs out.

Speaking to reporters, Trump said the government currently has funds to pay the military but claimed Democrats are forcing the current impasse. “I do… I actually have a man who is a very wealthy person… a donor, a great gentleman, and he said, ‘If there's any money necessary, shortfall, for the paying of the troops, then I will pay it,’ meaning he will pay it,” Trump said. He added, “We are not gonna need it. We are going to take care of our troops, but this was a position that is being forced upon us by Democrats.”

The shutdown has left thousands of federal employees without pay. Amid the standoff, the administration has begun laying off over 4,000 workers in a move seen as an effort to pressure Democrats. With no resolution in sight, the shutdown is expected to continue, raising concerns it could surpass previous records.

Historically, the longest US government shutdown occurred from December 22, 2018, to January 25, 2019, during Trump’s first term over funding for a border wall. Another notable shutdown began on December 16, 1995, under President Bill Clinton, ending on January 6, 1996, after a dispute with a Republican-controlled Congress over budget issues.

The current standoff centers on whether subsidies under the Affordable Care Act should be extended. Democrats maintain that continued support is essential to prevent insurance premiums from rising, while Republicans argue that the spending bill must exclude what they describe as “handouts” linked to health care and immigration.

As the shutdown continues, both parties remain locked in a tense negotiation, with millions of Americans affected and the question of troop pay remaining a key concern.