A Republican senator said Monday that Congress should not wait for President Trump Donald John TrumpUS reimposes UN sanctions on Iran amid increasing tensions Jeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Trump supporters chant 'Fill that seat' at North Carolina rally MORE as lawmakers negotiate over a deal to end the government shutdown, arguing it is the legislative branch’s job to fund the government.

"I do not know where the president is,” Sen. John Kennedy John Neely KennedyMORE (R-La.) told CNN’s “New Day” when asked about Trump's position on the issues currently under discussion.

“I don't think we should wait for the president. Presumably, he's thinking it through. He’s watching to see what we’re doing.”

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Kennedy’s remarks come as lawmakers struggle to reach a deal to reopen the government, for which a partial shutdown began at midnight on Saturday after the Senate failed to pass a short-term funding bill.

The Louisiana lawmaker argued it is up to him and his colleagues to reach a deal to end the shutdown.

“The executive branch, as you well know, is separate from the legislative branch. And it’s our job to fund government and keep government open,” Kennedy said.

“And I don’t think we ought to spend a lot of time waiting to hear from the president. He’ll weigh in when he’s ready to weigh in.”

Republicans and Democrats spent the weekend pointing fingers at each other over the shutdown and the stalled negotiations, which have largely centered on immigration.

Trump early Monday accused Democrats of shutting down the government to appeal to "their far left base."

“The Democrats are turning down services and security for citizens in favor of services and security for non-citizens. Not good!” Trump wrote on Twitter.