2LT International News

WASHINGTON, U.S. – In a bizarre claim that has caused bipartisan shock in Washington, the U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that most furloughed workers “are Democrats.”

The U.S. federal government partially shutdown on Saturday after Congressional leaders failed to resolve a political impasse over demands made by Trump.

The U.S. President has demanded $5 billion in funds in the budget deal for his controversial Mexico border wall, which the Democrats have refused to approve, calling one of Trump’s most prominent campaign vow a project that is “too costly and too unpopular.”

The failure of Congressional leaders, to agree on a budget deal has plunged the government into partial federal shutdown – causing financing for several federal government offices to expire.

The shutdown has forced about 380,000 government employees to take temporary, unpaid leave, while about 420,000 employees have been working without getting paid for it.

Since the shutdown began, Trump has repeatedly clarified that the partial shutdown was going to last until his demand for funds to build the wall are met. 

Earlier this week, Trump told reporters, “I can’t tell you when the government is going to reopen. I can tell you it’s not going to reopen until we have a wall, a fence, whatever they’d like to call it. I’ll call it whatever they want, but it’s all the same thing. It’s a barrier from people pouring into the country, from drugs.”

He argued, “If you don’t have that (the wall), then we’re just not opening.”

However, Trump’s adamant stance has been criticized by top Democrats, who have accused that the president was “plunging the country into chaos.”

Trump is demanding $5 billion in funds to construct the Mexico border wall.

On Thursday, as the government shutdown entered its sixth day, Trump claimed that “many” workers who are not being paid due to the government shutdown want him to hold out for the border wall.

In the claim made on Twitter, Trump wrote, “Most of the people not getting paid are Democrats.”

The President did not offer any support for his claim and reiterated that he will not reopen the government until he gets $5 billion in funding for the wall he plans to construct along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Trump wrote, “Have the Democrats finally realized that we desperately need Border Security and a Wall on the Southern Border. Need to stop Drugs, Human Trafficking, Gang Members & Criminals from coming into our Country. Do the Dems realize that most of the people not getting paid are Democrats?”

The U.S. President made the comments just days after claiming that “many” furloughed government workers told him that they’re fine with not getting paid as long as he secures additional funding for the border wall.