On the first day of the government shutdown during his second term, President Donald Trump’s conspicuous absence from the public eye drew scrutiny.
CNN’s Erin Burnett highlighted the president’s uncharacteristic silence on her show OutFront, noting that the typically media-savvy leader had made no in-person public statements. While Trump posted on Truth Social and taped an interview with OANN, his low profile stood in stark contrast to his frequent public appearances in recent weeks. Burnett observed that as the shutdown entered its 19th hour and the administration threatened imminent layoffs, the president was nowhere to be seen.
According to CNN Chief National Affairs Correspondent Jeff Zeleny, the absence may be a strategic decision. “He does not want to be out front or the face of this shutdown, at least in its opening day,” Zeleny said, adding that the situation could change in the coming days.
Zeleny emphasized that the administration remains active behind the scenes, citing the move to withhold approximately $26 billion in previously approved funding, primarily affecting Democratic-leaning states. He also reported that the administration believes the shutdown’s impact might persuade some Democrats to support the GOP’s funding proposal. An official told Zeleny this was one reason “the president was not out front poking people directly.”
When asked for comment, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson did not directly address Trump’s absence. Instead, she issued a statement to The Daily Beast blaming “radical Democrats” for the shutdown, claiming they are pushing a “$1.5 trillion wish list of demands, including free health care for illegal aliens.”
However, The New York Times has noted that the Democratic budget proposal does not alter existing law to permit unauthorized immigrants to purchase insurance on federal health care exchanges.
Offering another perspective on CNN, former Washington Post columnist Philip Bump suggested Trump might be adopting a less confrontational approach to find a resolution. “It may be a reflection, too, that he’s distracted by something else, which also happens with President Trump,” Bump added.
