Donald Trump has finally thrown in the towel. After a partial shutdown of the US federal government that lasted a record 35 days, the president showed yesterday that he’s not exempt from the standard pressures of Washington. His poll numbers dipping steadily – and the collateral damage from the shutdown adding up – Trump ultimately resolved that he had no choice but to concede to the Democrats. The result is a temporary end to America’s “shutdown showdown.”

Not only did Trump not receive the $5.7bn (£4.3bn) of funding that he demanded for a US-Mexico border wall, but he came out of the shutdown in perhaps the weakest and most demoralised position of his entire presidency. That he exposed his fellow congressional Republicans – who stood loyally behind the White House throughout the shutdown – to a humiliating defeat only magnifies the weight of Trump’s losses.

The final outcome should have surprised no one watching the high-stakes saga unfold inside the nation’s capital from the beginning. After the president boasted publicly that he’d be proud to “take the mantle” for owning the shutdown, Democrats did indeed lay the blame on him. Unfortunately for Trump, it was a hugely unpopular – and costly – political mess.

Trump’s dips in polls numbers in recent weeks suggest the extent to which the shutdown has taken a toll on the president’s popularity. According to a FiveThirtyEight calculation, Trump’s approval ratings decreased from 42.2 per cent at the start of the shutdown to 39.3 per cent as of yesterday. At the same time, more Americans continued to cast blame on the president as the shutdown wore on.

Make no mistake, Trump backing down from his position is an unmitigated loss for both the president and the GOP. As the White House raised the white flag, it was the first real sign that the era of divided government would be a new dawn for the president. After presiding over Washington with both houses of congress behind him for two years, the defeat is likely a harbinger of more challenges to come.

Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures Federal workers and contractors rally against the partial federal government shutdown Getty Images Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures The US Capitol on the first morning of a partial government shutdown in Washington EPA Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures Federal workers and contractors rally against the partial federal government shutdown Getty Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures President Trump speaks with children who called the North American Aerospace Defense Command Santa tracker in the State Dining Room of the White House. He earlier in the day, tweeted that he was 'all alone in the White House' waiting for Democrats to make a deal on border security EPA Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures Furloughed federal workers pick up free food at a pop-up store of Kraft Heinz Getty Images Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures Hundreds of federal workers and contractors rally against the partial federal government shutdown Getty Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures A pedestrian walk past the U.S. Capitol ahead of a possible partial government shut down in Washington, U.S., December 20, 2018. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts JOSHUA ROBERTS Reuters Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures From left, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Sen. Dick Durbin and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi walk to speak to reporters after meeting with President Donald Trump about border security in the Situation Room of the White House. Trump declared he could keep parts of the government shut down for "months or even years" as he and Democratic leaders failed in a second closed-door meeting to resolve his demand for billions of dollars for a border wall with Mexico Evan Vucci AP Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures Federal workers and contractors rally against the partial federal government shutdown Getty Images Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures A sign alerts visitors to the closure of the National Archives on the fifth day of a partial government shutdown EPA Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures Hundreds of federal workers and contractors rally against the partial federal government shutdown Getty Images Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures Visitors read signs announcing the closure of the White House Visitor Center EPA Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures President Donald Trump speaks during a round-table discussion on border security and safe communities with State, local, and community leaders in the Cabinet Room of the White House Getty Images Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures A sign alerts visitors to the closure of the White House Visitor Center on the first day of a partial government shutdown EPA Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures Furloughed federal workers show their IDs for entering a pop-up store of Kraft Heinz Getty Images

If there is a consolation for Trump, it’s that the shutdown probably won’t having a major effect on his reelection bid in 2020. Trump’s conservative base has been resolute in its support of the president since day one. That’s unlikely to change. Moreover, the shutdown likely won’t be the deciding factor in the minds of many independent and undecided voters given Trump’s myriad other problems, including the ongoing Russia investigation.

Yet Trump’s defeat won’t be costless for the president. Congressional Republicans could see the shutdown as evidence that simply standing behind the president isn’t necessarily always the best strategy. With cracks in the president’s armour exposed, moderate members of the GOP – led by the likes of Utah senator Mitt Romney – might find more reasons to break with the White House on policy.

Meanwhile, House speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats emerge from the shutdown stronger – and more emboldened. In the first real test to the speaker’s leadership, Pelosi passed with flying colors. Unwilling to blink, she showed herself a worthy adversary for Trump.

Trump will certainly try to spin the temporary reopening of the federal government as less than a total surrender. Going forward, the president will also continue to hammer the issue of immigration to his base, including at his upcoming State of the Union address. But even as Trump scrambles to mop up the political fallout, the extent of his losses from the shutdown shouldn’t be minimised.