No solution in sight.

This has become her motto current US government shutdownwhich is now the second largest in history. New report of Congressional Budget Office estimates that the shutdown could cost the economy between $7 billion and $14 billion. And all the while, the president’s attention Donald Trump has turned elsewhere. He travels the world, advocates for the demolition of the East Wing of the White House to make way for a banquet hall, and comments on gubernatorial elections.

THE VP Jay D. Vance, who has been coordinating the shutdown on Trump’s behalf, had lunch this week with Republican senators. But Vance is not Trump. He does not lead the Republican Party, nor does he inspire the fear that Trump does.

Not even O director of the Office of Management and Budget, Russell Vaughtknown by the nickname “Darth Vader” who froze billions earmarked for projects in Democratic-governed states is frightening. At times he has been the “face” of suspension, threatening mass layoffs of federal employees, though his plans have been blocked by the courts and individual agencies.

Democrats, unusually, remain adamant. Even after the statement by the Federation of American Public Employeesn that “it’s time to pass clean interim funding and end the shutdown today», the Democrats did not back down.

There is a risk for them Republicanseven if Trump doesn’t see it yet. Attempts to blame the Democrats, as did the Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in a video shown in airports across the country, they failed. Slogans like “the Sumer shutdown” or “the shutdown of the Democrats» they didn’t catch. Quinnipiac University Poll last week showed that Americans are slightly more likely to blame Republicans for the shutdown (45%) than Democrats (39%). Even more troubling for the GOP: 48% of independent voters blame Republicans, while only 32% blame Democrats. Younger Yahoo/YouGov poll shows 65% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of shutdown a higher percentage than those who disapprove of his presidency as a whole.

A new pressure point will emerge over the weekend, when the SNAP food subsidy program is expected to run out of supplies, leaving about 42 million Americans without benefits. The Republicans have already rejected their proposal Democrats for its financing, while o Senate Majority Leader John Thunehesitated to advance a Republican bill to the same effect, even though it would likely pass if it came up for a vote. However, a SNAP-only bill would only be a stopgap. Tthe biggest thorn remains the end of Affordable Care Act subsidies. If these are allowed to expire, health insurance prices will double for millions of citizens.

Thune is naively optimistic, thinking the Democrats are looking for a way out, but the minority party, as well as some Republicans, argue that only Trump can lead the way. And they are right. Only Trump can convince him Speaker of the House, Mike Johnsonto recall the Parliament. Only Trump can bring Republicans to an agreement on health care, something the public supports. An AP/NORC poll shows that six in ten Americans are very concerned about rising health care costs next year.

“I believe that the discussions behind closed doors will continue. I honestly believe that, eventually, the leader of the band, President Trump, will come out in force. And then we will find the solution», said West Virginia Senator Jim Justiceat a recent press conference. “You know when President Trump gets really, really involved, that’s when we move forward. We will get through this situation and everything will work out».

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul suggested Trump appoint a bipartisan panel of senators that could reach a deal on Affordable Care Act subsidies, while Democrats would agree to open the government as negotiations continue. The problem, however, remains trust, a rarity in Trump’s Washington, where the White House has undercut Congress and Republican leaders have been marginalized.

“We need to be sure that an agreement is indeed an agreement. If we shake hands, Congress will comply. But the president? We have no assurance yet that he will honor an agreement. And that’s not something John Thune can guarantee usVirginia Sen. Tim Kaine said on Fox News Sunday. “It is up to President Trump to say he will keep an agreement. So far he has shown no inclination to even discuss one, let alone commit to it».

Reopening the government and getting bogged down in the details of health policy don’t offer the kind of red carpet and pageantry that Trump prefers. It’s boring and unwatchable.

But the show of force is one aspect of the presidency that Trump enjoys and often exploits. He wants to be the savior and the negotiator. And he has little respect for congressional Republicans, even their leaders. These are the instincts that show the way out of the quagmire of shutdown.

Members of Congress would do well to remind him of another slogan: “Only he can fix it.»