President Trump, whom Democrats say is the only Republican leader who can break the government funding stalemate, has stayed out of the fray on Capitol Hill, leaving lawmakers in both parties pessimistic about reaching a deal until he engages in serious talks.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said on Friday that he will stick with his plan of forcing Senate Democrats to keep voting on a House-passed seven-week resolution to fund the government, but the measure has already failed four times and has little chance of picking up new support.

Thune is betting that it’s only a matter time before eight Democrats vote for the House bill, giving it the 60 it needs to advance to Trump’s desk, but that wager is looking more and more like a long shot.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schume

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