As tensions rise between Democrats and Republicans over the ongoing government shutdown, recent polling indicates that President Donald Trump’s attempts to assign blame to Democrats are falling flat with the American public. In a series of social media posts, television appearances, and internal communications, Trump has claimed that Democrats are responsible for the shutdown, alleging they are prioritizing “free health care for illegal aliens.” However, new data reveals that almost half of Americans place the responsibility squarely on Trump and the Republican members of Congress.
According to a nationally representative poll conducted by the Washington Post, nearly 50% of respondents attribute the shutdown to Trump and the Republican leadership, while only 30% hold Democrats accountable. Interestingly, even within Republican ranks, 8% admit that Trump and the GOP share the blame, a figure notably higher than the 2% of Democrats who see their own party at fault.
The claims made by the White House regarding health care for undocumented immigrants are misleading. Most undocumented individuals are already ineligible for federal health care benefits, and Democrats are actually advocating for restoring access to Medicaid and Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies for documented immigrants, including refugees and those granted asylum. In contrast, the Republican spending bill that passed earlier this summer proposes cuts to Medicaid, and the ACA subsidies are set to expire at the end of this year, a situation created by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Yet, prominent Republicans including Trump, Vice President JD Vance, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) continue to assert that the shutdown is a result of Democrats’ efforts to provide health care for undocumented individuals.
Polling data from before the shutdown officially began tells a similar story. An NPR/PBS News/Marist poll found that approximately 40% of respondents would hold Republicans responsible for the shutdown, compared to only 27% who would blame Democrats. A New York Times/Siena poll reflected a similar sentiment, showing that 26% of voters would blame Trump and Republicans, while 19% would point fingers at Democrats. About a third of respondents in that survey expressed that they would blame both parties equally, while just over 20% felt they lacked sufficient information to assign blame.
Beyond the political finger-pointing, it appears that the legislative priorities of the Republican Party are also out of touch with public opinion. The Washington Post poll revealed that a significant 71% of respondents believe that the federal subsidies reducing the cost of ACA plans—currently set to expire at year’s end—should be extended. Nearly half of those surveyed indicated that Democrats should insist on this extension, even if it prolongs the government shutdown. This perspective is supported by analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), which found that these subsidies saved enrollees an average of over $700 last year, and extending them could save individuals upwards of $1,000 in 2026.
In light of this, Democrats are attempting to leverage the situation to their advantage. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) articulated the party’s position on the Senate floor, stating, “Republicans shut down the government because they would rather make health care more expensive than keep the government running. That is literally where we are.”
As the standoff continues, it remains clear that the American public is not swayed by Trump’s blame-shifting tactics. Instead, voters are looking for accountability and solutions to pressing issues like health care, reflecting a broader desire for leadership that prioritizes the needs of the people over partisan politics.
