Pool Report 5/Shutdown remarks

President Trump's opening remarks turned to the shutdown and his efforts to lower prescription drug costs.

He said it "makes me angry" that Americans paid higher drug prices for so long and that he's proud that tariff threats are prompting pharmaceutical companies to pledge to equalize costs.

Trump said congressional Democrats have rejected a clean CR because they don't want to have a good economy, saying Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries are holding the country "hostage."

He predicted that Schumer will retire before the 2028 primary and made a remark about Nancy Pelosi not looking good in a recent TV hit.

If the shutdown continues, "We're only going to cut Democrat programs.... we'll give them a little taste of their own medicine."

Trump responded directly to Schumer's remarks on Democrats gaining ground during each day of the shutdown and said he believes it's actually getting "worse for them" and that Democrats are divided.

"This is a confession" that Schumer is serving "the partisan interests of his party," Trump said.

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Steven Nelson

New York Post

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