Trump’s Shutdown ‘Victory’ Suddenly Becomes a Nightmare for Republicans Ahead of Midterms

President Donald Trump is calling the end of the government shutdown a win — but for Republicans, it’s shaping up as a political headache.

“I tell you, we’re going to be working on that very hard over the next short period of time, where the people get the money,” Trump said Monday, referring to Americans affected by expiring enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies. “We’re talking about trillions and trillions of dollars, where the people get the money.” He offered no details on how such a plan would work — or whether it could help people now.

The problem is clear: Democrats failed to secure the extension of those subsidies, leaving Republicans to own the health care mess. Millions of Americans face rising premiums and unaffordable deductibles, and the GOP has no concrete plan. If Republicans cannot deliver a solution, Trump’s “victory” could backfire badly in the run-up to the 2026 midterms.

Trump’s promises on health care are nothing new. In 2016, he pledged to repeal Obamacare and replace it with something “terrific” — cheaper and better coverage. That never happened. In 2017, he wrote, “Despite what you hear in the press, healthcare is coming along great. We are talking to many groups and it will end in a beautiful picture!” In 2019, he declared, “The Republican Party will be soon be known as theparty of health care.” And in 2024, he told Kamala Harris he had “concepts of a plan” to make health care “better and less expensive.” Americans are still waiting.

Health care isn’t just a policy problem — it’s tearing the Republican Party apart. Marjorie Taylor Greene broke ranks during the shutdown, calling out ACA premiums doubling for her family. “Not a single Republican in leadership talked to us about this or has given us a plan to help Americans deal with their health insurance premiums DOUBLING!!!” she wrote on X.

She also criticized Trump, saying he should spend less time with foreign leaders and more on domestic issues. Trump responded, “I don’t know what happened to Marjorie. She’s a nice woman, but I don’t know what happened. She’s lost her way, I think.” Greene fired back, “I haven’t lost my way. I’m 100% America first and only!”

Even endangered House Republicans urged Speaker Mike Johnson to address the expiring subsidies. “While we did not create this crisis, we now have both the responsibility and the opportunity to address it,” they wrote.

The administration is pursuing initiatives like TrumpRx, a direct-to-consumer prescription drug platform that critics say is Trump’s attempt to plaster his name on a government-sponsored program in the mold of “Obamacare.” Trump has also floated sending money directly to ACA policyholders instead of extending subsidies. But questions abound: would the payments cover the full shortfall? Could recipients face huge costs if they get sick? Trump told Fox News, “They’re going to feel like entrepreneurs,” without explaining how this would actually lower costs now.

The shutdown highlighted Republican inaction on health care. An NBC News poll found 10% of respondents cited premiums as their top voting issue, and 49% said Democrats would handle health care better than Republicans, compared with 26% for the GOP.

Trump may have declared victory on the shutdown, but the political reality is stark: Republicans now own rising premiums, a divided party, and millions of voters’ anxiety about health care. A short-term win has morphed into a long-term nightmare that could shape the 2026 midterms.