Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.) expressed optimism that the ongoing government shutdown might conclude this week, now that President Trump has returned from his trip to Asia.

During an appearance on CBS News’s “Face the Nation,” Warner avoided specifying potential Democratic concessions in the protracted funding dispute but emphasized the necessity for the president to engage in discussions.

When questioned about when the impact on air traffic controllers and other government employees might pressure an end to the shutdown, Warner responded, “I am hopeful it will resolve this week.”

“We understood that resolution was unlikely until Donald Trump returned to the United States. Now that he’s back, he needs to prioritize America and engage with us, particularly on addressing the healthcare crisis,” Warner remarked.

Warner asserted that any effective negotiation hinges on President Trump’s active participation.

“It’s why the bipartisan conversation so far, I don’t think we’ll ever get to yes because unfortunately, my Republican colleagues can’t move on anything without a Trump sign off,” Warner said.

“Trump has spent enough time going out there now trying to audition for a Nobel Prize, running around the world. Come back and put America first. Sit down and let’s get this resolved. It can be done in an hour,” the Democrat said, nodding to a frequent refrain the president uses.

Warner said he hopes, too, that the administration funds the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) after a federal judge ordered officials to spend an emergency fund for the program.

“We’re still waiting to see whether the administration wants to appeal that,” Warner said. “Get the money out to people in need. Sit down with us, get this resolved this week, and let’s get everybody back to work.”