Republicans argue ‘big-hearted president’ Trump is keen to end shutdown

House speaker says president has tried everything he can' even while Trump delays food benefits to millions

Top Republicans are portraying Donald Trump as a big-hearted president" who is desperate to reopen the US government, even as he delays food assistance funding for millions of low-income Americans but steams ahead with construction of his $300m gilded White House ballroom.

As the government shutdown entered its 33rd day, the Republican speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, presented Trump as a man angry and desperate to break the impasse so as to ease mounting pain for ordinary Americans. He's just desperate for the government to open, he's tried everything he can," Johnson said, adding that Trump was a big-hearted president, he wants everybody to get their services".