President Donald Trump claimed victory Tuesday over rival Democrats on the longest-ever US government shutdown, in a speech at an annual ceremony honoring America's military veterans.

Trump seized on the fact that several Democratic senators broke ranks on Monday to vote with Republicans for a compromise deal that paves the way for an end to the congressional standoff.

"Congratulations... on a very big victory," Trump said to Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson when he spotted him in the audience at the Veterans Day ceremony in Arlington National Cemetery.

"We're opening up our country -- it should have never been closed," added Trump.

The shutdown has seen a million federal workers go unpaid, disrupted air travel ahead of the holiday season and threatened food benefits to low income

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