January 1, GOP Stays United as Media Pressures Mount

Wyatt’s Take

• The media is pushing the idea that Republicans and the White House are split.
• A senior House Republican aide says these attacks are failing to divide them.
• GOP leaders point the blame for the shutdown at Democrats.

Reporters and political opponents are working hard to claim that Republicans and President Trump are falling apart over the government shutdown. Stories from the D.C. press say the GOP is feuding behind the scenes and can’t stick together.

But a senior House aide says, “Congressional Republicans are aligned with the White House on message, tactics, and resolve, and attempts by the DC press to drive a wedge have failed.”

At a Thursday press conference, President Trump spoke highly of House Speaker Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Thune. He put blame on Democrats for dragging out the shutdown, saying, “They have nothing to lose. They’ve lost the elections. They’ve lost the presidential election in a landslide.”

Trump also questioned if Senate Democrat leader Schumer has any control, saying he doesn’t know “who the leader is,” and joked, “The Democrats have no leader. They remind me of Somalia.”

The House passed a funding bill long before the deadline, but the Senate hasn’t cleared it. Some Democrats and an Independent even broke ranks to vote with Republicans, but it still fell short of the votes needed.

Trump and Republican leaders continue to stay in touch, working on a united front. Johnson made it clear he’s speaking closely with Trump, sharing that they all “lament — we all do — this terrible situation.”

Johnson said Democrats are turning the shutdown into “political theater” and are “playing games,” while regular Americans suffer.

Meanwhile, top Democrats like Schumer say their side “feels good” about their strategy. That drew sharp words from Vice President JD Vance, who said, “Better for Schumer. Worse for Americans. What a vile sentiment from an alleged leader in our country.”

Johnson echoed this frustration, calling Schumer the “engineer of the painful shutdown.” With both sides refusing to give an inch, there’s little sign the shutdown will end soon.

Don’t let the beltway spin fool you—Republican leaders are sticking together and fighting for everyday folks. Sign up to stay updated as this critical battle continues.

Wyatt Matters

Working families in Middle America are tired of political games in Washington. This shutdown shows why folks want leaders who put regular people first, not party power or headlines.

Full story here