House Speaker Mike Johnson flatly rejected Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s invitation for a private negotiation to reopen the government, declaring that Republicans “will not solve it in a smoke-filled backroom.” Johnson insisted that Democrats are holding the process hostage by tying government funding to expanded Obamacare subsidies and what he described as indirect benefits for illegal immigrants.
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump said he’s willing to meet Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries — but only after Democrats agree to reopen the government. As the shutdown stretches into its third week, frustration is growing on both sides. Yet polling now suggests that public blame is shifting — with new data showing Trump’s approval rising even as Democrats face mounting criticism for the ongoing stalemate.
