Speaker Johnson says he and Thune '100% aligned' with Trump on shutdown and funding talks

WASHINGTON, DC: House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Wednesday, October 22, that he and Senate Majority Leader John Thune met with President Donald Trump to discuss the ongoing government shutdown and efforts to restore federal funding.

Speaking at a press conference on Capitol Hill, Johnson said that the meeting lasted about an hour and that GOP leaders remain in full agreement with the president.

We are "100% aligned as we are with the president," Johnson said.

GOP weighs next steps as funding deadline nears

Asked whether Republicans would consider extending government funding beyond November 21, the end date of the current GOP-backed proposal, Johnson said no decision has been made.

“Obviously, the calendar is being eaten up by all this political nonsense by the Democrats,” he said.

“We’re running out of time to do very important necessary things,” he added.

He added that Republican leaders are assessing the situation “day-by-day.”

“It is going to be more and more difficult with each passing hour to get all the appropriations done on time,” Johnson said.

“We acknowledge that, but we have to decide this on a day-by-day basis,” he added.

Calls grow for Trump to intervene to end shutdown

As the shutdown stretches on, frustration is mounting among Republicans who believe that Trump’s direct involvement could break the stalemate.

“If he gets involved, he can move it,” said Sen Tommy Tuberville. "He can make a decision on what we do." 

Rep Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey echoed that sentiment, telling CNN, “We absolutely need him. He has the strength and skills to get it done. The Speaker is doing a great job, but we need Trump.”

Sen Jim Justice of West Virginia agreed, “At the end of the day, to move this needle and get this thing off the bubble, President Trump will have to get involved. That’s probably what will have to happen.”

Despite these calls, Trump has so far avoided direct day-to-day involvement, leaving Johnson and Thune to manage the negotiations.

Both leaders have maintained a firm stance against Democratic proposals, insisting that the government must reopen before any broader talks can begin.

Trump blames shutdown on Chuck Schumer and the Democrats

President Donald Trump on Tuesday, October 21, accused Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats of "holding the entire federal government hostage" amid a prolonged shutdown.

He said, "We will not be extorted on this crazy plot of theirs."

Speaking during a luncheon at the White House Rose Garden, Trump urged Democrats to pass a "clean, bipartisan" continuing resolution (CR) to reopen the government.

"Chuck Schumer and the Senate Democrats need to vote for the clean, bipartisan CR and reopen our government. It’s got to be reopened right now," he said.

"They are the obstructionists. And the reason they’re doing it is because we’re doing so well… we’re doing well all over the world," the president added.