J,D Vance Tees Off On Democrats Over Looming Shutdown, Bullsh*t
Just hours after the House of Representatives’ spending agreement failed, Vice President-elect JD Vance met with Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republican lawmakers on Thursday evening to discuss the looming government shutdown.
Vance and several GOP members gathered in Johnson’s office to strategize on government funding as the Friday deadline approached. By Friday morning, uncertainty remained—was a shutdown inevitable, or would Republicans find a way forward?
As Vance moved through the halls, a reporter pressed him with a question. “Mr. Vance, will you support any deal that does not include a debt limit increase?”
Vance didn’t hesitate. “Look,” he responded sharply. “Despite being a clean CR, Democrats chose to shut down the government simply to deny the president any negotiating leverage during his first term—or the first year of his second. Instead, they’d rather collapse the system and push their global censorship nonsense. They’ve asked for a shutdown, and I believe they’ll get exactly what they want.”
As reporters continued shouting questions about the failed spending bill and the GOP’s next move, Vance turned away without further comment.
Trump-Backed Bill Rejected as Shutdown Looms
On Thursday night, the House of Representatives rejected President-elect Donald Trump’s bill aimed at preventing a partial government shutdown. With the Friday deadline fast approaching, Congress remains on the verge of failing to fund the government.
Despite needing a two-thirds majority to pass, the bill didn’t even secure a simple majority. Two Democrats crossed the aisle to support it, but 38 Republicans defied Trump and voted against the measure. In the end, the bill was defeated 174-235.
This latest rejection follows two chaotic days of negotiations in Congress, where fierce battles over federal spending took center stage. Trump, along with allies Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, played an active role in the debate.
Meanwhile, the national debt has soared past $36 trillion, and the deficit has climbed to over $1.8 trillion.
Republican Hardliners Block Bipartisan Deal
The bill was hastily rewritten on Thursday after a faction of hardline conservatives—led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy—revolted against an earlier bipartisan agreement. That initial deal had included several policy riders and would have postponed the funding deadline until March 14.
While the revised bill was significantly shorter than its 1,547-page predecessor, the 116-page version still tackled several key issues beyond government operations.
Key provisions included:
- Suspending the debt ceiling and extending the federal funding deadline to March 14, a compromise Trump had backed during his campaign.
- Allocating nearly $110 billion in disaster relief funds for Americans affected by storms Milton and Helene and for the reconstruction of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, damaged by a barge earlier this year.
However, the new version eliminated two controversial provisions:
- A proposal to revitalize Washington, D.C.’s RFK Stadium.
- A congressional pay raise—the first since 2009.
Despite Trump’s push for passage, resistance within Congress was immediate.
“Tonight, all Republicans—including Democrats—should vote for this bill for the sake of our nation,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
However, even before the final text was made public, opposition was already mounting.
During a tense closed-door Democratic caucus meeting, members blasted Speaker Johnson for reneging on the original bipartisan deal. Their frustration was palpable, with some lawmakers reportedly shouting, “Hell no!” as they discussed the proposal.
With divisions deepening and time running out, the fate of government funding remains in limbo.