As we’ve been reporting, we’re now a full week into the Schumer Shutdown, and Democrats are already resorting to their favorite political trick — blame Trump. It’s a transparent attempt to dodge responsibility for their own mess. The truth is, Democrats played a leading role in both causing this shutdown and keeping it going.
The main roadblock for Senate Democrats remains their insistence on taxpayer-funded health insurance for illegal immigrants—a policy they continue to falsely claim isn’t federally funded. On top of that, they’re demanding an extension of the expanded Obamacare tax subsidies set to expire at the end of 2025.
Democrats are openly admitting they won’t move an inch until they get a guarantee from Republican leaders and President Trump that the pandemic-era, “more generous” subsidies from 2021 will be locked in for good. In other words, they’re willing to keep the government shut down indefinitely just to protect handouts that benefit illegal immigrants and prop up a failing healthcare law.
“If President Trump and Republicans are finally ready to sit down and get something done in healthcare for American families, Democrats will be there, ready to make it happen,” Sen Minority Leader Schumer (D-NY) proclaimed on Monday.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) sees things clearly: the fight over Obamacare subsidies is a separate issue — one that can be debated later, after Senate Democrats stop holding the government hostage and agree to the clean continuing resolution the GOP-controlled House passed on September 19th.
In the meantime, Johnson hasn’t let Chuck Schumer off the hook. Over the past week, he’s used his daily press conferences to hammer the Senate leader, reminding reporters that this entire Schumer Shutdown was triggered by the same man who, just seven months ago, said that a government shutdown was “bad for America”:
?WOAH: Speaker Mike Johnson just got HEATED about the Schumer Shutdown.
He even cut himself off and realized how fired up he was.
"I'm sorry. I'm aggravated."
"The people who are supposed to be protected are being completely CHEATED by Democrats in the senate!"
"They HATE… pic.twitter.com/LID9XnB4zm
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) October 8, 2025
Chuck Schumer has been in Congress for 44 years. He was first elected to the House in 1981, just for reference. I was nine years old. I was in the third grade when Chuck Schumer came here to Congress. Throughout his entire career, he has been very consistent about the necessity of keeping the government open, until just now. In fact, I want to read to you an excerpt from seven months ago, his floor speech on March 13th, 2025.
This is Senator Chuck Schumer in March of this year on the Senate floor. “While the CR bill is very bad, the potential for a shutdown has consequences for America that are much, much worse. I believe it is my job to make the best choice for the country to minimize the harms of the American people. Therefore, I will vote to keep the government open and not shut it down.”
SPEAKER JOHNSON: “Chuck Schumer has been in Congress for 44 years."
"He was first elected to the House in 1981. Just for reference, I was 9 years old. I was in the third grade when Chuck Schumer came here to Congress.” pic.twitter.com/yl8YGiW67I
— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 7, 2025
In this next clip, Johnson warned that the clock is ticking for the government to ensure U.S. troops are paid on time, placing full responsibility for any potential delays squarely on Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats:
The Democrat Government Shutdown is JEOPARDIZING the finances of real
American families—including our troops.If Senate Democrats don’t vote to reopen the government by Monday, service members will miss their October 15th paychecks — and important programs will remain suspended.… pic.twitter.com/tUCSHNQRyw
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) October 7, 2025
hasn’t held back in calling out Senate Democrats — by name — for the blatant hypocrisy of continuing to collect their paychecks while U.S. troops, TSA agents, and air traffic controllers go without pay, and more:
It’s Day 8 of the DEMOCRAT SHUTDOWN.
– In New York, air travelers are facing safety delays.
– Food banks in Georgia and Colorado are bracing for higher demand.
– Hospitals in New Jersey are putting some care on hold.Democrats in each of those states—and many other examples… pic.twitter.com/iJqOSkfMWn
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) October 8, 2025
We’ve pointed out before that whenever a government shutdown happens, the media reflexively blames Republicans—doesn’t matter if they’re in the minority or running the show. But this time, something unusual is happening: even parts of the mainstream media are starting to hold Democrats accountable.
Case in point: CNN’s Jake Tapper recently confronted House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) over Democrats’ false claim that federal funding for illegal immigrants’ health insurance isn’t part of the shutdown fight.
One big reason the media narrative seems to be shifting is the sheer tenacity of Republican leadership — particularly Speaker Johnson and key figures in the Trump administration — who have been relentlessly exposing Democrats with hard evidence and receipts at every turn:
Yes, Democrats did shut down the federal government to try to give taxpayer-funded benefits to illegal aliens.
The radical funding proposal put forward by the Democrats would result in nearly $200B in spending on illegal aliens and other non-citizens over the next decade. https://t.co/01dgnMc210 pic.twitter.com/fwRmr4Ei5A
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) October 7, 2025
It’s good to see. Meantime, Johnson should — and likely will — continue taking Schumer to the woodshed over his decision to keep the government shut down.
