Trump’s Tantrum: The 2025 Shutdown and the Infantilization of Presidential Power

“Day One of the shutdown: the White House cries, ‘It’s not my fault!’”

In 2019, The Sexy Politico chronicled the slow-motion carnage of a 35-day partial shutdown—noting how ordinary Americans bore the brunt of paralyzing politics while congressional leaders played chicken. The Sexy Politico In 2020, we warned about how allowing a presidency unchecked control over national crises invites catastrophic damage. The Sexy Politico Today, we find ourselves back in the trenches—except this time, the commander-in-chief is behaving like a petulant child, refusing to negotiate while the country burns.

So, What’s Happening Now?

At 12:01 a.m. ET on October 1, 2025, the federal government entered a shutdown after Congress failed to pass appropriations. AP News Government Shutdown Roughly 800,000 federal employees were furloughed or reassigned to work without pay. Wikipedia 2025 Government Shutdown  Essential programs like Social Security and Medicare continue (because they’re funded by standing legislation)—but many agencies, from NIH to WIC, are forced to curtail operations. Wikipedia 2025 Government Shutdown

But the real headline isn’t just that the government shut down—it’s the childish, vindictive posturing from the top.

Trump Isn’t “Holding Firm”—He’s Holding Hostage

This is not strong leadership. It is a tantrum.

1. Threats of mass layoffs, cast as political leverage

The White House has publicly warned of sweeping job cuts across federal agencies unless Congress caves. PBS Whitehouse Threatens Massive Layoffs Some memos have directed agencies to plan for reductions-in-force (RIFs)—an extreme measure even in a shutdown. Washington Post: Government Shutdown Legal experts have noted that mass firings without required notice could violate appropriations law. Washington Post

A mature leader might negotiate; a petulant one threatens livelihoods as a bargaining chip.

2. Freezing funds to states for political ends

Trump has directed the freeze of $26 billion in federal funding aimed at Democratic-led states. ReutersTransit projects in Chicago (Red Line extension) and New York have been put on ice under the guise of “race-based contracting concerns.” Reuters That’s not governance—that’s blackmail.

3. The art of “I’ll take the blame—but only on my terms”

Trump has embraced the shutdown fight as though it were his personal war. As Semafor recently observed: he relishes battles where he can cast himself as the martyr, even when he is the aggressor. Semafor He’s revived the playbook he first used in 2019: force a stalemate, demand the other side “bow to me,” and then dole out scraps once he’s satisfied he’s “won.” Semafor

But Americans are not props in his vendetta.

Lessons from Past Shutdowns

2019: The agony of 22+ days

In Day Twenty-Two of the Government Shutdown, we watched federal workers miss paychecks, programs crumble, and the public grow fatigued of broken promises. The Sexy Politico The House eventually passed a stopgap, but the damage was already done—families destabilized, trust eroded, and political capital squandered.

2020: Authoritarian drift

In Wrecking Ball, we cautioned that consolidating executive power in times of crisis is a dangerous invitation. The Sexy Politico Allow a presidency to operate unchallenged, and it expands until the guards are gone.

2025 should have been the moment when lessons from those episodes hardened our resolve. Instead, we’re repeating the same mistakes—with a president who treats governance like a temper tantrum.

The Human Toll

• Federal workers: Furloughed, working without pay, or in fear of termination.
• Families and local economies: When government contracts pause, small businesses and communities suffer ripple effects.
• Vulnerable populations: Programs like WIC, housing, public health, and grants face instability. PBS
• Trust in institutions: Every time Congress and the White House decode leadership as “who can cry louder,” normal people lose faith.

The Only Real Solution: Force His Hand

If Trump wants to play king, we must remind him he rules by the consent of the governed—and through laws he’s sworn to uphold.

• No concessions without accountability: He can’t extract border wall money or erode health care protections in exchange for reopening.
• Don’t reward tantrums: A shutdown is not a negotiation tool; it’s a hostage crisis.
• Insist on transparency and timelines: Should a deal happen, every dollar, clause, and offset must be subject to public scrutiny.

Final Word

A government shutdown under any president is selfish and cruel. Under Trump, it is theatrical bullying masquerading as bravado. Watching a grown man toy with the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands is not strength—it’s immaturity on the national stage.

We’ve seen the wreckage before. We recognize the signs. And 2025 will not be the year we let one man’s tantrum destroy lives again.