Hakeem Jeffries accuses GOP of acting like a 'Trump cartel' during shutdown standoff

WASHINGTON, DC: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Thursday, November 13, accused House Republicans of behaving like members of “Trump cartel.”

He blamed Speaker Mike Johnson and his caucus for the record-long government shutdown that crippled federal operations for more than six weeks.

“It was irresponsible for Mike Johnson to keep House Republicans on a taxpayer-funded vacation for more than seven weeks,” Jeffries said on MSNBC's 'Way Too Early'.

Hakeem Jeffries blasts GOP leadership for shutdown woes

“The problem with House Republicans is that they continue to function like a wholly owned subsidiary of the Trump cartel, as opposed to what Democrats will do, serve as a check and balance on an out-of-control executive branch,” Jeffries said.

Jeffries accused Republicans of the longest-ever shutdown and defended Senate Democrats against criticism from some within his own party, calling Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s approach to the shutdown standoff a “valiant fight.”

On the future of expiring Obamacare subsidies, a major sticking point in the funding impasse, Jeffries said, “it remains to be seen” whether Republicans will cooperate with Democrats to protect them.

On the House floor, he said that the Republican spending bill failed to address the cost-of-living crisis or extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits. “That’s why House Democrats strongly opposed it,” he explained. 

Trump signs funding bill and declares shutdown a political win

President Donald Trump signed a short-term funding bill late Wednesday night, officially ending the 43-day government shutdown, the longest in US history. 

Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump used the moment to attack Democrats and cast the episode as a Republican victory ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

“For the past 43 days, Democrats in Congress shut down the government of the United States in an attempt to extort American taxpayers for hundreds of billions of dollars for illegal aliens,” Trump said, seated beside Speaker Mike Johnson and senior GOP lawmakers.

“Today, we’re sending a clear message that we will NEVER give in to extortion,” he added.

He urged voters not to forget the shutdown during next year’s elections, saying, “Don’t forget what they’ve done to our country.”

Shortly after the signing, the White House posted a triumphant message on social media, saying, “WE ARE SO BACK,” followed by another post declaring, “Republicans won’t give in.”

After signing the bill, Trump called for redirecting insurance funds directly to citizens, claiming that it would ensure “a better deal for Americans.”

“I’m calling today for insurance companies not to be paid, but for this massive amount of money to be given directly to the people,” the president said, promising to “work on something having to do with health care” in the coming months.