Vance Slams Democrats Over Shutdown Deal They Rejected Weeks Earlier

Vice President JD Vance pulled no punches Thursday night, blasting Democrats for dragging the country through a 43-day government shutdown only to accept the exact same deal they rejected weeks earlier.

Speaking to Sean Hannity, Vance condemned the shutdown as “all for nothing,” pointing out the tangible harm done to everyday Americans while Democrats played politics.

“They caused a lot of stress for our troops. They made our air traffic controllers go unpaid. They caused flight cancellations. They had people fearing they wouldn’t get their food benefits and for what?” Vance asked. “All because the far left couldn’t stop obsessing over Donald Trump.”

The vice president accused Democrat leadership of holding the country hostage to appease a radical base more interested in political warfare than running the government.

• The shutdown stalled federal paychecks, including for active-duty military and air traffic controllers.

• SNAP benefits for over 42 million Americans were put in limbo during the standoff.

• The shutdown cost the economy billions in lost productivity, according to independent economic analyses.

And yet, the legislation President Trump signed this week to reopen the government is the same agreement Republicans offered nearly 45 days ago one Democrats flatly rejected at the time.

“We met with Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer and said we will pass this exact deal. They said no,” Vance revealed. “Privately, even their own moderates admitted the far left was being crazy but none of them had the guts to stand up.”

In contrast, Vance praised President Trump’s steady leadership throughout the standoff. “The president said from the start. Democrats would come to their senses, and that’s exactly what happened.”

The bill now funds the government at current levels through January 30, with a longer-term deal expected for fiscal year 2026. SNAP, which had been on the chopping block, is now funded through September relief for millions of working-class Americans.

But the political fallout may only be beginning. Vance pointed to the “political stupidity” of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, suggesting the shutdown has effectively ended his career.

“We care about Americans. They care about illegal aliens,” Vance said bluntly. “That’s been clear for years, and they just proved it again during this shutdown fight.”

The message is unmistakable: Democrats gambled on political theater, and America paid the price. Meanwhile, it was Trump and the GOP who remained focused on stability, security, and common sense governance.

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