Sen. John Kennedy was skeptical Wednesday that either President Donald Trump or House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have a strategy to end the ongoing government shutdown, and he thinks intermediaries are needed to conduct negotiations as they are both "too close to the fight."
"Here's what I wish they would do, and I bet we could clear it up in two days," the Louisiana Republican told CNN's "New Day."
"If Mrs. Pelosi would appoint someone in whom she has confidence, the president appoint someone in whom he has confidence and say get me a global plan to secure the border."
The plan would likely include beefing up border security, adding border agents, technology, drones, more detention and a wall in certain places, said Kennedy, and then "both people could tell Trump and Pelosi that they are both getting what they want, and the government could once again be open."
However, both parties are "so dug in," said Kennedy.
"I haven't spoken to the speaker, for whom I have great respect," he said. "I have spoken to the president. He is resolute on this."
Kennedy said his message to the American people is that nobody in Washington wants a shutdown, and everyone wants the government to be open again.
"For whatever reason the two negotiators here, the president and Mrs. Pelosi are not going to reach an agreement any time soon, if at all," said Kennedy. "You have to go to plan B. There is a way to get the government open but they both have to give. Neither is willing to give an inch. Maybe they ought to just step aside and let two other people take a run at it."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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