US President Donald Trump on Thursday (local time) warned that “there could be firings” if the ongoing government shutdown drags on, further blaming Democrats for the crisis. He also hinted at ‘big plans’ for 2026.In an interview with the OAN television network, Trump defended his hardline approach, saying Democrats in Congress were responsible for the fallout. “There could be firings, and that’s their fault,” he said, referring to a recent memo from the Office of Management and Budget that raised the prospect of permanent job cuts.“We could cut projects that they wanted, favorite projects, and they’d be permanently cut,” he remarked. “I am allowed to cut things that should have never been approved in the first place and I will probably do that,” he added.The federal government shut down early Wednesday after lawmakers failed to reach a funding deal, halting non-essential services and furloughing hundreds of thousands of federal employees. Key national landmarks, including the Liberty Bell in Pennsylvania and Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, have also been closed.Trump claimed revenues from new tariffs could eventually reach $1 trillion a year, saying they would help pay down government debt, which he warned could rise to $38 trillion. He suggested some of the tariff proceeds might be returned to Americans in the form of rebate checks.Looking ahead to the 2026 midterm elections, Trump also hinted at major plans. When asked if he had plans to be out on the campaign trail stumping for GOP candidates.“I have big plans, I want to survive,” Trump responded. “So you look at what’s going on, it’s crazy. You know, the rhetoric that these crazy Democrats are using is very dangerous. They’ve made politics very dangerous,” the US president said.“And we’ll be, we’ll be, you’re going to be very happy with the job we’re going to do,” he added. His remark came against the backdrop of two assassination attempts during his 2024 campaign and the recent killing of MAGA ally Charlie Kirk.Earlier on Truth Social, Trump called the funding lapse, a “Democrat-forced closure” and asked Republicans to “use this opportunity to clear out dead wood, waste and fraud.”“Republicans must use this opportunity of Democrat forced closure to clear out dead wood, waste, and fraud. Billions of Dollars can be saved. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump posted.White House officials, meanwhile, signaled mass layoffs could be imminent, with cuts targeting infrastructure projects in Democratic areas.This is the first US government shutdown since 2019. At the core of the standoff are expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies: Democrats want them extended, while Republicans are demanding a “clean” funding bill without what they call policy riders. The stalemate threatens to furlough up to 750,000 workers, disrupt services, and deliver a heavy blow to the US economy.
