White House calls out Democrats’ shutdown hypocrisy, trolling their past statements

The White House on Monday accused congressional Democrats of hypocrisy as budget negotiations intensified, and it issued a compilation of past statements in which leading Democrats decried the devastating consequences of a federal government shutdown.

The Trump Administration argues that Democrats, who are now pressing for roughly $1.5 trillion in spending demands, are risking paychecks for military personnel, veterans’ care, disaster relief funding, and essential services for millions of Americans. By contrast, President Donald Trump and Republicans are advocating for a short-term “clean” funding extension to keep the government open while negotiations continue.

The White House document strings together past remarks from Democratic leaders dating back more than a decade, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Patty Murray, all warning against the dangers of allowing the government to shut down.

In January 2024, for example, Schumer insisted that “passing a clean CR … will avert a harmful and unnecessary government shutdown. No reasonable member on either side … wants a government shutdown.” Just months later, in September 2024, he declared that “average Americans … will suffer most” if the government were to close, citing risks to seniors, veterans, and military families.

The White House release also highlighted Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s 2013 comments, when she described shutdown threats as a “last resort for those who can’t otherwise win their fights through elections [or] Congress.”

Other Democrats’ past statements warned of cascading impacts: missed paychecks for service members, delays for veterans’ services, halted disaster relief, higher housing costs, and cuts to food assistance programs.

“Shutdowns don’t work,” Sen. Brian Schatz said in 2023. “The government eventually reopens and neither side has accomplished a single thing.”

Now, Republicans say, those same lawmakers are steering the country toward exactly the scenario they once condemned.

The White House accused Democrats of prioritizing an expansive progressive spending agenda over the stability of federal operations.

“Radical Left Democrats are barreling the country toward a government shutdown if they don’t get their ~$1.5 trillion wish list of demands,” the White House statement stated, taking the fight to the court of public opinion.