The Wall Street Journal reports:

President Trump has projected unwavering confidence that he is winning the messaging war over the government shutdown. But behind the scenes, his team is increasingly concerned that the issue at the center of the debate will create political vulnerabilities for Republicans.

Advisers are worried that the GOP will take the blame for allowing healthcare subsidies to expire, raising costs for millions of Americans ahead of next year’s midterm elections, according to administration officials.

Inside the White House, aides are discussing proposals to extend the enhanced subsidies for Affordable Care Act health-insurance plans, the officials said. Trump hasn’t yet decided whether he will endorse such a proposal, according to the officials. Republicans say they will only hold negotiations with Democrats on the matter after the government is reopened.

The closed-door hand-wringing stands in contrast to the public bravado conveyed by the president and his top advisers. Trump has posted artificial-intelligence videos of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D., N.Y.) wearing a sombrero. And he has said the shutdown gives his administration an “unprecedented opportunity” to make far-reaching cuts and target programs favored by Democrats. The administration is preparing to oust thousands of federal workers.

The emerging dynamic puts Trump in a bind: He is determined to crush the most concerted Democratic resistance since he regained the White House. But he also has to find a solution to a looming problem that threatens his agenda and the GOP majority in the midterms. [Continue reading…]