Trump trumpets win on short-term spending deal, but shutdown politics remain

David Jackson | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption White House: Government Could Reopen Tuesday White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders says most government offices closed in the shutdown could be operating "in full capacity" Tuesday morning. (Jan. 22)

WASHINGTON – President Trump continued to taunt Democrats for striking a deal with Republicans that allowed the government to re-open on Tuesday – but there are less than three weeks before the prospect of another government shutdown amid an ongoing dispute over immigration.

In an early morning tweet, the president said "'even Crazy Jim Acosta of Fake News CNN agrees" that “Trump wins again" and "Dems caved...gambled and lost."

Even Crazy Jim Acosta of Fake News CNN agrees: “Trump World and WH sources dancing in end zone: Trump wins again...Schumer and Dems caved...gambled and lost.” Thank you for your honesty Jim! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 23, 2018

It was unclear if Trump was quoting the CNN reporter accurately. Acosta, the network's chief White House correspondent, has aggressively reported on the Trump White House, and confronted the president on his constant criticism of his CNN and the news media in general.

More: Trump declares victory after senators strike deal to lift government shutdown

More: Congress solved the shutdown but deep spending and immigration disputes remain. What now?

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On Monday, Congress passed a spending measure that funds the government – but only up to Feb. 8.

The temporary measure that could lead to to another shutdown dispute in less than two-and-a-half weeks, amid signs that congressional Democrats and the White House may drive harder bargains.

In the wake of the partial shutdown, Democrats and some Republicans say they will continue to push for a program to prevent deportation of "DREAMers," young people who were brought into the country illegally by their parents.

Senate Democratic leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., one of the targets of Trump taunts, said he would enter new talks without one of his pre-shutdown offers. The Senate leader said he would no longer pledge money for Trump's proposed anti-migration wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

“We’re going to have to start on a new basis and the wall offer is off the table," Schumer told reporters.

At the White House, Trump press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said a bipartisan immigration framework from a group of senators “is totally unacceptable to the president and should be considered dead on arrival.”

The proposal by three senators – Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., Lindsay Graham, R-S.C. and Dick Durbin, D-Ill. – does not meet the benchmarks that Trump has outlined for an agreement, Sanders said, including funding for a border wall, an end to the visa lottery system and the elimination of the system of family-based preferences known as “chain migration.”

That said, Sanders expressed confidence about an ultimate agreement between the two parties, saying, "I don't think they're that far apart."

However, even if the Senate strikes an immigration deal, it would still have to pass the Republican-run House, where immigration politics are even more difficult.

Trump gave Congress six months to find a replacement to the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), and Democrats objected to the spending measure partly because it did not address the issue.

Under political pressure, Democrats gave up their demands Monday to support the temporary spending bill, giving Trump and the GOP the chance to declare victory.

Late Monday, Trump tweeted: "Big win for Republicans as Democrats cave on Shutdown. Now I want a big win for everyone, including Republicans, Democrats and DACA, but especially for our Great Military and Border Security. Should be able to get there. See you at the negotiating table!"

More: Congress passes funding bill, ends three-day government shutdown

In a subsequent tweet on Tuesday, Trump said that "nobody knows for sure that the Republicans & Democrats will be able to reach a deal on DACA by February 8, but everyone will be trying....with a big additional focus put on Military Strength and Border Security."

The president added: "The Dems have just learned that a Shutdown is not the answer!"

Nobody knows for sure that the Republicans & Democrats will be able to reach a deal on DACA by February 8, but everyone will be trying....with a big additional focus put on Military Strength and Border Security. The Dems have just learned that a Shutdown is not the answer! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 23, 2018

Contributing: Gregory Korte