Donald Trump apparently thought supermarkets were giving away free groceries during the shutdown (they weren’t)

For the past month, the federal government has been in the midst of a partial government shutdown, set in motion by Trump’s demands for funding for a border wall. As a result, thousands of federal employees are going without pay. And many politicians have been shockingly cavalier about the situation—including Trump himself, who recently seemed to suggest that banks and grocery stores are providing assistance to those affected by the shutdown.

In a January 24th press briefing, a reporter asked the president about comments that Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross made on CNBC that same day. Ross claimed he didn’t “quite understand” why some federal workers were going to shelters for food when they could take out loans. In response, Trump said that he didn’t see Ross’s full remarks, but attempted to clarify them anyway, saying that banks and grocery stores would “work along” with furloughed workers.

"Local people know who they are, (where) they go for groceries and everything else, and I think what Wilbur was probably trying to say is that they will work along," he said. "I know banks are working along. And that's what happens in time like this. They know the people; they've been dealing with them for years. And they work along."

Donald Trump, defending Wilbur Ross, says government workers not receiving a paycheck because of the #TrumpShutdown can simply convince their local grocery stores to “work along” with them. pic.twitter.com/bIvu2CJxHb

— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) January 24, 2019

Try telling the police you weren’t shoplifting, you were just helping yourself to a @realDonaldTrump “work along.” https://t.co/5KwKlfmaPj

— Moe — Quadruple Vaxxed Vet — Unaffiliated Voter (@ColMorrisDavis) January 25, 2019

This begs the question: What reality is Donald Trump living in? The average grocery store chain does not, in fact, personally “know the people” who shop at their stores nor is there any realistic way that they can “work along” with customers who are unable to pay. And as The New York Times reports, several banks are offering low or no-interest loans to affected workers, but many financial institutions don’t offer personal loans at all. And if federal workers take out a loan, they have to worry about paying it back. As CNNnotes, Trump has signed a bill guaranteeing that those affected by the shutdown will receive their pay retroactively, but at this point, it’s not clear when this will happen.

Since you expect landlords and mortgage lenders to "work along” with Government employees…

Are Trump hotels and properties willing to accept an IOU? pic.twitter.com/KdbtCnTLHr

— Ryan Hill (@RyanHillMI) January 25, 2019

Can anyone point me in the direction of the grocery stores that “work along” with you? Asking for 800,000 friends

— juules 🇩🇴 (@Juleidys) January 24, 2019

According to CNBC, the current shutdown, which has lasted 34 days, is the longest shutdown in American history. More than 800,000 workers are affected. Yesterday, January 24th, the Senate voted down two different bills to fund the government.

At this point, we need politicians to “work along” with each other and reopen the government.

Update: The federal government reached a deal on January 25th to temporarily reopen the government for three weeks while negotiations on a border wall continue.