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Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives are at odds
over how to proceed with spending legislation, which must be
passed to avert an Oct. 1 shutdown. A small group of hardliners,
including Trump's most fervent supporters, have complicated the
agenda for House Speaker Kevin McCarthy as he pushes a
short-term funding plan.
"Republicans in Congress can and must defund all aspects of
Crooked Joe Biden’s weaponized Government," Trump wrote on his
Truth Social media site late on Wednesday, calling it "the last
chance to defund these political prosecutions against me and
other Patriots."
The U.S. Justice Department has previously said activities
funded by "permanent indefinite appropriations" would continue
during any funding lapse.
The Special Counsel's Office prosecuting Trump and his allies
had no formal comment, but it is covered by "the permanent,
indefinite appropriation for independent counsels," according to
its latest funding statement.
President Joe Biden's re-election campaign accused Trump, the
leading candidate by far in the 2024 Republican presidential
nominating contest, of putting his own interests ahead of those
of the country.
"Donald Trump is rooting for a government shutdown and couldn't
care less what it would mean for American families," the
campaign said in a statement. Biden, a Democrat, defeated Trump
in 2020 and is seeking re-election in 2024.
Trump faces two federal trials, one tied to his attempts to
overturn his 2020 loss, as he again seeks the presidency in the
2024 election, and the other over his handling of classified
documents.
New York and Georgia are also prosecuting him and a federal
shutdown would not affect those cases.
The White House has stressed the independence of the Special
Counsel's Office.
Republicans and Democrats seized on Trump's plea, with a Trump
ally, U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz, posting on X, formerly
known as Twitter: "Trump Opposes the Continuing Resolution. Hold
the Line."
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries wrote on X: "Trump
ordered House Republicans to shutdown the government. These
people are too extreme to ever be trusted."
(Reporting by Susan Heavey and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Howard
Goller and Jonathan Oatis)
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