John Kennedy blames Chuck Schumer for shutdown as he's afraid of losing to 'socialist' Democrats

WASHINGTON, DC: Senator John Kennedy is calling out Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer over the tough spot he’s in amid the ongoing government shutdown.

Kennedy accused Schumer of causing the government shutdown to appease the far-left wing of his party, led by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Kennedy also claimed Schumer is nervous about losing support to the socialist faction as the shutdown disrupts travel and leaves thousands of federal workers unpaid.

John Kennedy accuses Chuck Schumer of catering to the far left despite his denial

John Kennedy told 'Fox & Friends' on Wednesday, October 8 that Schumer has a casual "relationship with the truth".

He added, "He’s nervous as a pregnant nun about losing his re-election to the socialist wing of his party, led by Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez, which is in control."

The government shutdown, which began earlier this month, has caused travel delays and left thousands of federal employees working without pay.

While House Republicans have proposed several plans to end the deadlock, Democrats have refused to support any measures that don’t include an extension of enhanced ObamaCare subsidies, set to expire at the end of 2025. 

Kennedy made his remarks after host Ainsley Earhardt played a clip of Schumer addressing concerns about pressure from the left.

In the clip, Schumer said, “No, the bottom line is simple. We’re fighting for the American people, and it’s not just one small group of American people that want this. It’s across the board.”

Despite this, Kennedy predicted Schumer will eventually yield, “Senator Schumer is a smart man. He’s been around a long time. His first car was a chariot.”

Kennedy remarked, “Washington is all he’s ever known his entire life. He knows he’s on shaky ground here in terms of policy.”

Kennedy added that he expects Schumer to convince enough Democrats to join Republicans to end the shutdown.

“He’ll say, ‘I can't vote with you. I’ve got to appear to be tough. I may even have to criticize you, but wink, wink, nod, nod. I'm trying to make the loon wing of the party love me,’” Kennedy explained. “But he's got to be careful with that, because he doesn't want it to look like a mutiny, because then he looks even weaker."

JD Vance blames Chuck Schumer for government shutdown

Vice President JD Vance placed direct blame on Chuck Schumer for the government shutdown, accusing the New York Democrat of prioritizing the demands of the far-left faction within his party.

“The reality here, and let’s be honest about the politics, is that Chuck Schumer is terrified he’s going to get a primary challenge from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez,” Vance shared during recent a White House press briefing.

He quipped, “The reason why the American people’s government is shut down is because Chuck Schumer is listening to the far-left radicals in his own party because he’s terrified of a primary challenge.”

“Our troops are not getting paid starting today because of the Chuck Schumer wing of the Democratic Party,” he continued. “We have people who require food assistance, low-income Americans who require food assistance, who will not get it unless we reopen the government, thanks to Chuck Schumer and his wing of the Democratic Party. "

He emphasized, “We have flood insurance as we start hurricane season in the southeastern part of our country. That flood insurance is going to disappear because of Chuck Schumer and the far left of the Democratic Party.”