Democratic Party faces backlash for 'bending the knee' to Trump and GOP over shutdown

WASHINGTON, DC: Critics are blasting Democrats for striking a deal with Donald Trump to end the longest government shutdown in US history. Many are furious, accusing key Democratic senators of giving in to Trump and Republican leaders instead of standing their ground. 

On Sunday, November 9, senators approved a deal that sets the stage for ending the government shutdown. A group of breakaway Democrats joined forces with Republicans to fund government services, even though party leaders opposed the agreement. Republicans, led by Trump, have widely praised the deal, while Democrats remain sharply divided over whether it delivers enough concessions during the shutdown.

Which Democratic senators joined Trump to push the shutdown deal?

The Senate has passed a deal that marks the first step toward reopening the US government after the longest shutdown in history. After 40 days of deadlock, a group of Democrats and one Democratic-aligned independent joined Republicans to push the deal through.

Seven Democratic senators, Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, Dick Durbin of Illinois, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, Tim Kaine of Virginia, Jacky Rosen of Nevada, and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, along with independent Angus King of Maine, who usually votes with the Democrats, supported the agreement.

Only one Republican, Rand Paul of Kentucky, opposed the deal.

Senator Tim Kaine, the Democratic Party's 2016 vice-presidential nominee, defended his vote, saying, “This deal guarantees a vote to extend Affordable Care Act premium tax credits, which Republicans weren't willing to do."

Some Democrats are furious that their colleagues have passed this deal, believing those who voted for it caved in too quickly.

California Governor Gavin Newsom's press office called the deal "pathetic." The office shared a post on X (formerly Twitter), which read, "This isn’t a deal. It’s a surrender. Don’t bend the knee!"

Senator Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent who has sought the Democratic presidential nomination in the past, earlier told reporters the deal "would be a horrific mistake to cave in to Trump right now."

"That would be a tragedy for this country," the veteran senator said.

Internet erupts over Democrats who 'caved' to Trump and Republicans

Social media critics, including numerous supporters of the Democratic Party, voiced strong anger at their party for giving in to Donald Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress.

An X user posted a couple of questions, "So you think keeping the Government closed will make you look bad? You think keeping the Government closed will hurt your popularity? Vote to open it without the ACA subsidies and see just how bad and unpopular you look. I'm f**king furious."

One furious commenter wrote, "This s**t is why people don't trust the Democratic Party."

An X user argued, "The most frustrating thing about today is that Democratic leaders have had weeks to plan an exit strategy and to share that with voters and make us part of the process. I understand wanting to end suffering. I do not understand backroom deals being forced down our throats with no explanation."

A commenter said, "These selfish Dems who flipped pretty much just undermined every argument the party has been making over the course of this shutdown. Dems finally won BIG on messaging and they’ve undone it in a day."

A person mocked Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, writing, "Time to pass the torch, Chuck."

"Absolutely pathetic. I cannot believe we caved to this wannabe dictator and his goons. Thanks to the Democrats who voted no. We’ll remember who bent the knee," a post read. 

Someone else quipped, "The biggest joke about all of this is that the entire plan that @SenatorShaheen and @SenAngusKing and @SenCortezMasto is reliant on Republicans keeping their promise and even then it's just to have a vote and they have they will all vote NO. This literally makes NO SENSE."

An enraged person wrote, "These spineless Dems were playing in our face all along. Why put the federal workers and other Americans through this and get absolutely nothing!!!!!!!!"

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