House Speaker Mike Johnson accused Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of refusing to engage in genuine negotiations that would keep the government open, calling it a “selfish political calculation.” Johnson told Fox News he and President Trump confronted Schumer about his unwillingness to compromise during an hour-long phone call.
Johnson noted that Democrats had supported similar funding measures 13 times under President Biden, but now are rejecting a clean continuing resolution unless it includes expanded Obamacare subsidies. He argued the GOP proposal is “simple” and “clean,” with no partisan add-ons, so Democrats have no basis to refuse it—unless their motives are political.
The speaker warned that Schumer and Democrats are willing to inflict pain on Americans through a prolonged shutdown in service to their base. Johnson said Republicans have offered nothing but a clean funding measure, and the ball is now in Democrats’ court.
The standoff highlights the deep partisan divide in Washington, with Republicans insisting on fiscal restraint and Democrats demanding expanded entitlements. Both sides appear entrenched, but Johnson maintains that it is Schumer’s obstruction preventing serious talks. With the shutdown’s economic and political consequences mounting, pressure is likely to intensify on Democrats to explain why they are rejecting a measure they once supported repeatedly.
