The on-going shutdown has
affected the lives of many in the United States. The affected persons
range from the federal employees to other businesses dependent on the
Government. But, it is strange and equally surprising that the
shutdown has also affected the United States President.
President Trump personally
paid for an “all American” feast of burgers, pizza, and
fries for a visiting college football champions in White House.
President Trump had to do this as the White House chefs are among
those federal workers who are furloughed owing to the partial
shutdown. It should be reported here that the ongoing shutdown is the
longest one in the history of the United States.
On Monday, the Clemson
Tigers were invited by President Trump to the White House as they
have won the national championship defeating Alabama Crimson Tide.
Having all the Chefs of
White House absent due to the on-going shutdown, Trump used his own
money to order burgers and fries from McDonald’s and the Wendy’s
which he termed as the “great American food.”
He said that he had
ordered American Fast food paid by the President himself, the food
included lots of hamburgers, pizzas. He also added that he had hoped
the team would like those foods more than he could offer.
Standing behind the
spread of fast food, in the Dining Room of the White House, Trump
said he likes them all, and he would like to see at the end of the
evening how many are left.
White House Press
Secretary Sarah Sanders said that the President had arranged a fun
event to celebrate the College Football National Champion Clemson
Tigers. As the Democrats are adamant on refusing the budget for the
border wall, there is a shutdown, and the President had to pay on his
own as due to the Shutdown, White House staff is also furloughed.
When asked about the
choice of McDonald’s or Wendy’s Trump said he chose these outlets
as those are all good American stuff, and the national champion team
at the White House deserves a little celebration. Praising the team
for the game, he said that the team had played fantastic against
Alabama.
It was for the second time
the Clemson Tigers were invited to the White House. They had visited
the White House in June 2017 after winning the previous championship.
The football player walked
into the event and found tables loaded with hamburgers from
McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Burger King. Another table was full of
Dominos Pizzas and fries.
President Trump explained
that he had arranged a number of foods that are liked by the
Americans throughout the nation and he would like to see how many are
left after the end of the event. He also said that because of the
shutdown he had to arrange the event like this.
He also added that he was
happy about the Republicans sticking together for the greater good of
the nation. Emphasizing on the border wall, he said it is needed from
the security viewpoint, and the wall should have been done many years
before. And he said he is confident that the wall is going to be
built this time.
It should be reported here
that the partial shutdown has reached 24th
day due to the conflict between the Trump administration and the
Congress over the funding of proposed U.S. – Mexico border wall.
The lives of around 800000 federal workers have been affected by this
partial shutdown. The cost of the proposed wall would be $5.7 billion
and as per some experts in a week, if the Shutdown continues, the
cost to the American economy will surpass the cost of the proposed
wall.
The shutdown has closed
temporarily many key departments like the State Department and not
surprisingly the White House kitchen. Trump told at the event that he
did not want to postpone the event until the shutdown ended.
The last record shutdown
happened in 1995-1996 at the time of President Bill Clinton which
lasted for 21 days.