In American politics, perception is often more potent than policy. No one understands this better than Donald J. Trump. The former—and now current—president has long mastered the art of political gamesmanship, and his latest maneuver, a simple “thank you” tweet to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, was a masterstroke in political deception. In that one tweet, Trump ignited a firestorm within the Democratic Party, exposing their internal divisions and forcing them into a political civil war while he sat back and watched.
I am a student of strategies and the art of negotiation. Whether business, personal, or political, there is always an offer and a negotiation. As the song says, we must mature and recognize when to fold, hold, and walk away.
This is not about supporting Trump. This is about recognizing the tactical political move of a politician who learned from his past mistakes and executed a move that blindsided his opposition. To understand the brilliance of this maneuver, we must look back at Trump’s last major shutdown battle and its consequences
2018-2019: The Shutdown That Cost Republicans Everything
During Trump’s first term, he never shied away from the spotlight. His presidency was marked by a hands-on, in-your-face approach, mainly regarding battles with Democrats. Nowhere was this more evident than during the 2018-2019 government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history at 35 days.
The shutdown stemmed from a bitter dispute over Trump’s demand for $5.7 billion to fund his U.S.-Mexico border wall. Democrats, fresh off a victory in the 2018 midterms where they reclaimed control of the House, refused to budge. The government stopped, and 800,000 federal workers went unpaid—TSA agents, IRS workers, and even Coast Guard members struggled to make ends meet. National parks became trash heaps, food safety inspections stopped, and airline security risks grew.
Most damaging of all? Trump took the blame.
Instead of allowing the shutdown to unfold naturally and pinning the blame on Congress, Trump proudly declared in a public meeting with Chuck Schumer and Nanci Pelosi that he would take responsibility for it. The media relentlessly replayed that clip. Polls showed that most Americans held Trump responsible for the shutdown, not Democrats.
This mistake had massive political consequences. Republicans lost the House in 2018, the Senate in 2020, and Trump lost the White House. His public involvement in the shutdown played a direct role in that downfall. He learned a hard lesson: taking the spotlight in a government shutdown is a losing strategy.
2024: Trump’s Tactical Retreat
Fast-forward to today. Another government shutdown loomed. But this time, Trump stayed silent. There were no public threats, no “proud” declarations, and no dominating the media cycle. Instead, he allowed the legislative process to unfold naturally. Republicans in Congress handled the negotiations; House Speaker Mike Johnson was the frontman, while Trump remained a shadow figure, avoiding blame entirely.
Then came the moment no one saw coming. Chuck Schumer and other Democrats, in a surprising move, voted for a Republican-led spending bill to avert the shutdown. That’s when Trump struck. He didn’t attack Schumer. He didn’t gloat. Instead, he thanked him. Progressive Democrats were furious. Some even called for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to primary Schumer.
The reaction was immediate. Progressive Democrats turned on Schumer, accusing him of caving to Republicans. The left fractured before the public’s eyes. Trump had manipulated the narrative masterfully—without even making a demand. His one tweet gaslit the Democrats into eating themselves alive.
Schumer and other Democrats were now forced to defend why they voted for a Republican bill instead of attacking the GOP. Progressive activists were enraged. The left was fighting itself instead of Trump. And he had done it all without stepping into the political battlefield.
A Political Masterstroke That Democrats Never Saw Coming
This was not about the policy behind the shutdown or whether the spending bill was good or bad. It was about the game of politics, and Trump played it to perfection. He learned from his mistakes, executed a patient strategy, and let Democrats implode without lifting a finger.
The Democratic Party has long underestimated Trump’s ability to control the narrative. In 2018, they had him on the ropes because he was too loud. In 2025, he let them punch themselves out, then delivered the finishing blow with a simple tweet.
Another lesson here is the danger of prejudgment. When we assume someone will act the same way as before, we miss subtle changes. It’s like a fighter training for a bout against a southpaw, only to realize in the ring that his opponent is orthodox. His entire strategy is now useless. The Democrats expected Trump to fight the same battle he lost before, but this time, he switched stances—and they never saw it coming.
If Democrats don’t recognize what happened, they are in serious trouble heading to 2028. Politics is war, and Trump won this battle without appearing on the battlefield. That’s how the game is played.
