Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday put the blame for the government shutdown squarely on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, arguing the New York Democrat bowed to far-left radicals out of fear of a primary challenge from Democratic Socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Speaking from the White House press briefing room, Vance said there were “a lot of different answers” floating around about why Democrats had let the government close, before cutting to what he called the core truth.
“But the reality here, and let’s be honest about the politics, is that Chuck Schumer is terrified he’s going to get a primary challenge from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez,” Vance said. “The reason why the American people’s government is shut down is because Chuck Schumer is listening to the far-left radicals in his own party because he’s terrified of a primary challenge.”
Vance pressed the point further, warning that if the shutdown drags on, it will be Schumer’s faction that bears the blame.
“Our troops are not getting paid starting today because of the Chuck Schumer wing of the Democratic Party,” the vice president said. “We have people who require food assistance, low-income Americans who require food assistance, who will not get it unless we reopen the government, thanks to Chuck Schumer and his wing of the Democratic Party.
“We have flood insurance as we start hurricane season in the southeastern part of our country. That flood insurance is going to disappear because of Chuck Schumer and the far left of the Democratic Party.”
The vice president urged Congress to act quickly to reopen the government, which slipped into partial shutdown at midnight when both parties failed to reach a deal. He also argued Democrats forced the standoff in part because they want to restore Biden-era federal funding for emergency healthcare for illegal immigrants — a program ended under the Trump administration.
Watch the clip below:
.@VP calls out Chuck Schumer 🔥🔥🔥
"Chuck Schumer is terrified he's going to get a primary challenge from AOC. The reason why the American people’s government is shut down is because Chuck Schumer is listening to the far-left radicals in his own party—because he’s terrified of… pic.twitter.com/WorNsn44XJ
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 1, 2025
