U.S. shutdown drags on as Trump flummoxes senators with health care claim

The U.S. government shutdown entered its sixth day on Monday with no end in sight, as Democrats and President Donald Trump and the Republican Party continue to blame each other.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. government shutdown entered its sixth day Monday with no end in sight after the Senate yet again rejected competing bills proposed by Republicans and Democrats to reopen the government.

The vote on the Democratic bill was 45-50, while the final tally on the GOP measure was 52-42, with neither reaching the 60-vote threshold to break a filibuster and advance for final passage.

One hour before the vote, President Donald Trump left senators flummoxed after he claimed that there were negotiations taking place on health care. The central Democratic demand in the standoff is to extend expiring Obamacare funds.

"We have a negotiation going on right now with the Democrats that could lead to very good things. And I'm talking about good things with regard to health care," Trump told reporters.

Asked specifically whether he's speaking to Democratic leaders, Trump replied: "I don't want to say that. But we are speaking with the Democrats. But some very good things could happen with respect to health care."