The White House is waging a public relations campaign aimed at shifting blame for what could be a lengthy government shutdown to the top House Democrat and away from President Donald Trump even though he just days ago he said he was “proud” to single-handily own it.

Trump and the top two Democratic leaders engaged in a televised war of words on December 11 in an Oval Office confrontation during which the president took ownership of the coming partial shutdown. The president told them he would be “proud to shut down the government for border security,” adding he would “take the mantle” before roaring this: “I’m not going to blame you for it.”

But Trump is now blaming House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, the California Democrat expected to again become speaker next week. The calculation is a political one: Pelosi was one of Trump’s favorite foils in his 2016 presidential campaign and as he hit the trail for November’s midterm elections. And he and his aides made clear she will be a focal point of his expected 2020 re-election campaign.

Negotiations stalled days ago, with White House and senior congressional Democratic aides unable to point to any substantive talks since Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., on Saturday rejected an offer of $2.1 billion in border barrier funding and another $400 million for other security tools made by Vice President Mike Pence.

White House aides ignored several requests for comment about any talks Thursday ahead of what turned out to be short House and Senate sessions. They kept the door at the White House that leads from the briefing room to two suites housing communications staffers locked all day. But that changed Thursday evening, when a White House official rang a Roll Call reporter and kick-started a shutdown blame game.