Johnson Rips Schumer’s Plan To Continue Govt. Shutdown
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) blasted Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) over a reported plan by the Democratic leader to keep the government shut down at least until a left-wing rally scheduled for Oct. 18 in Washington, D.C., is held.
In an interview with “Fox & Friends” on Friday, Johnson said Republicans have learned that Democratic leaders want to wait until after a scheduled “No Kings” rally in DC on Oct. 18 is held before they will agree to vote to reopen the government, in order to appease the party’s left-wing base.
“I’m normally a patient guy, but I have HAD it with these people. They’re playing games with real people’s lives,” a clearly frustrated Johnson said.
“They have a Hate America rally scheduled for Oct. 18 on the National Mall. Pro-Hamas, Antifa people, they’re all coming out. House Democrats selling T-shirts for the event,” he went on. “It’s being told to us they can’t reopen the government until after that rally, because they can’t face their rabid base!”
The White House sharply rebuked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., on Thursday after he said the ongoing federal government shutdown was “getting better” for Democrats — a remark that drew outrage across Washington and underscored the growing political divide as the standoff drags on.
Speaking to Punchbowl News, Schumer reportedly said, “Every day gets better for us,” claiming Democrats had long prepared for the political fallout and were benefiting from Republican struggles to hold the line.
We knew that health care would be the focal point on Sept. 30,” Schumer said, suggesting Democrats had planned their messaging around the shutdown well in advance, Fox News reported.
WATCH:
This Will Make You FURIOUS!!!
— Conservative Brief (@ConservBrief) October 10, 2025
Bombshell from D.C. – Speaker Johnson is enraged after it leaked that Chuck Schumer plans to keep the government closed until AFTER an ANTIFA “No Kings” rally on October 18th so Democrats don’t upset the liberal base!
“It’s being told to us they… pic.twitter.com/x9atZrFhoj
The comments ignited a furious response from the Trump White House, which accused Schumer of taking satisfaction in the pain being felt by American workers and families.
“Chuck Schumer just said the quiet part out loud: Democrats are gleefully inflicting pain on the American people over their push to give illegal aliens free health care,” Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson told Fox News Digital in a statement.
“Workers are missing paychecks; travelers are missing flights; businesses are struggling; military families are forced to rely on food pantries, but to Chuck Schumer, that means ‘every day gets better.’”
Jackson continued, “No matter what Chuck Schumer thinks, Americans struggling is not good, and the Democrats must stop inflicting this pain on them and reopen the government now.”
The political tensions come as the shutdown enters its third week, with federal agencies shuttered and growing uncertainty over whether furloughed workers will be compensated once the standoff ends.
Republicans have placed blame squarely on Schumer, saying the Democratic leader is catering to his party’s progressive base amid political pressure from his left as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., has fueled speculation about a potential 2026 Senate primary challenge against Schumer.
President Trump weighed in Thursday during a Cabinet meeting, calling Schumer’s remarks “disgusting” and accusing him of holding the federal government “hostage.”
“Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries and the Congressional Democrats are holding the entire federal government hostage,” Trump said. “He’s terrified AOC is going to run against him, and she probably will. His numbers are terrible — I don’t think he makes it another term.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed Jackson’s remarks, saying Schumer’s comments revealed the Democrats’ priorities.
“While federal workers stress over missed paychecks, military families turn to food pantries, and airports face delays — Chuck Schumer and the Democrats are bragging that ‘every day gets better’ for them,” Leavitt wrote on X. “What a disgusting and revealing statement. Democrats are gleeful about inflicting pain on the American people.”
Schumer’s office defended his comments, providing Fox News Digital with a portion of his Senate floor remarks, which sought to shift blame back onto Republicans.
