President Donald Trump has claimed victory over rival Democrats on the longest-ever US government shutdown, in a speech at an annual ceremony honoring America’s military veterans.
Trump seized on the fact that several Democratic senators broke ranks on Monday to vote with Republicans for a compromise deal that paved the way for an end to the congressional standoff on Tuesday.
Trump congratulated Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson when he spotted him in the audience at the Veterans Day ceremony in Arlington National Cemetery.
He added that the government was opening up the country that should’ve never been closed
The shutdown saw a million federal workers go unpaid, disrupted air travel ahead of the holiday season and threatened food benefits to low income households.
Eight Senate Democrats broke with their party to back a bill that would fund the government through January.
It is expected go to the House of Representatives on Wednesday, meaning the shutdown could end by Friday.
News edited by Favour Owonibi