New Delhi, Oct. 20 -- US President Donald Trump sharply criticized Democrats for prolonging the ongoing government shutdown, asserting that the stalemate gives him leverage to permanently eliminate what he called Democratic "welfare programs."

"The Democrats are kamikazes right now. They're kamikaze pilots right now. They have nothing going. They have no future," Trump said during an exclusive interview with Fox News.

Trump argued that Democrats lack effective leadership and strong candidates for upcoming elections. He suggested that the shutdown allows his administration to cut billions from programs traditionally championed by Republicans.

"They didn't realize that that gives me the right to cut programs that Republicans never wanted...