Speaker Mike Johnson has solidified his position by moving to shut down any attempts to negotiate a way out of the shutdown in the face of growing pressure from both within his party and the public. His stance comes as some senators look for potential pathways to end the standoff, though Johnson has taken a firm position against any discussions that could lead to a resolution. During a news conference outside his Capitol office, Johnson expressed his belief that Democrats should shift their focus entirely to passing a stopgap bill that has already cleared the House, rather than engaging in negotiations.
Johnson’s statement that ‘I quite literally have nothing to negotiate’ underscores the Republican leadership’s resolve to maintain their position, even as the shutdown continues to impact everyday Americans. This decision has sparked internal debates within the party, with some Republicans, including two House members, raising concerns over President Donald Trump’s aggressive plans to cut federal workers and certain programs. These internal concerns were brought to the attention of White House budget director Russ Vought in a private call.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, President Trump has announced his intention to meet with Vought to determine which ‘Democrat Agencies’ will be subject to cuts. This move has only heightened the tensions within the Republican Party, with some members, such as Rep. Rick Allen of Georgia, expressing outrage over any GOP senators who might consider engaging in talks about off-ramps to the shutdown, particularly those involving health care negotiations. Allen has pushed for a complete repeal of the Affordable Care Act, rather than allowing its expiring insurance subsidies to continue.
Johnson has publicly backed Trump’s authority over these decisions, even acknowledging that the president does not take pleasure in implementing the cuts. He has also addressed the rising issue of deepfake videos, particularly those depicting House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries with fabricated audio suggesting that Democrats are targeting undocumented immigrants due to a shift in voter sentiment against their policies. Johnson has advised Jeffries to ignore these videos, while also criticizing Senate leaders for entertaining a plan to leave Washington for the weekend after voting on the stopgap bill.
Despite the ongoing shutdown, Johnson has insisted that the Senate should remain through the weekend and continue voting, emphasizing the importance of maintaining legislative activity to serve the people. He has also expressed his hope that the House will return next week with a meaningful proposal that can lead to a resolution. These statements further highlight the deepening political divide and the significant impact of the shutdown on both the legislative process and the public’s trust in the government.