White House answerphone blames chaos on Democrats

THE White House answering machine message was changed yesterday to blame Donald Trump’s political opponents for a government shutdown.

Callers were blocked from getting through as hundreds of thousands of Americans were forced to take an unpaid day off by the stalemate.

An answerphone message at the White House told callers: ‘Unfortunately, we cannot answer your call today because congressional Democrats are holding government funding – including funding for our troops and other national security priorities – hostage to an unrelated immigration debate. Due to this obstruction, the government is shut down.’

Some 850,000 government employees stayed at home with no pay.

The shutdown was expected to end last night after Senate Republicans and Democrats voted to approve a temporary funding bill. Senator Chuck Schumer said Democrats would support the bill if Republicans addressed a programme that shields young immigrants from deportation.

The partial government shutdown lasted three days.

At the weekend, Mr Trump tried to project an image of a leader in control by posing for photos while on the phone in the Oval Office – wearing his trademark baseball cap, of course. Despite his look of steely determination, the President faced mockery online – because his desk was empty.

One critic tweeted: ‘This is the photo you’d take if you’re visiting the White House and they let you sit at the desk.’