Speaker Johnson Reminds America That Democrats Played Games with Their Lives [WATCH]

House Speaker Mike Johnson continued to outline the events leading to the government shutdown as the House moved one step closer Wednesday night to ending what became the longest shutdown in United States history.

Johnson has served as the primary spokesman for House Republicans throughout the process, repeatedly stating that Democrats initiated the shutdown for political purposes and maintained it despite repeated opportunities to fund the government.

Johnson addressed the issue publicly as the shutdown reached its third week.

“After this weekend’s ‘Hate America’ rallies co-sponsored by the Communist Party, I thought [Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) would] finally do the right thing. But he’s still too terrified of his radical base — even admitting he’ll keep the government shut down while hardworking Americans suffer,” Johnson said on day 23 of the shutdown.

On Wednesday night, the House voted 222–209 to advance the funding legislation needed to reopen the government.

Six Democrats voted with the Republican majority, while two Republicans voted with Democrats in opposition.

House PASSES bill to end government shutdown, sending it to Trump’s desk tonight

Democrats who voted with GOP:

Adam Gray
Jared Golden
Don Davis
Henry Cuellar
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez
Tom Suozzi

Republican “no” votes

Thomas Massie
Greg Steube pic.twitter.com/bsFzwEoNzL

— Liz Elkind (@liz_elkind) November 13, 2025

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The vote came two days after several Senate Democrats broke with their party and supported the measure, beginning the process of ending the shutdown.

🚨 JUST IN: Democrats began SCREECHING at each other on the House floor when members of their own party defected and voted to REOPEN

“NO!!!! NOOOOO!!!!!!!”

*unintelligible screaming*

Democrats are in full meltdown mode 🤣🔥 pic.twitter.com/6wlCkAT31E

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) November 13, 2025

Ahead of the vote, Johnson reminded reporters that the House had already acted weeks earlier to prevent any lapse in government operations.

He referenced the clean continuing resolution passed by House Republicans on September 19.

The measure did not include Republican policy provisions and was intended to keep federal agencies funded while Congress debated priorities through the normal appropriations process.

Johnson noted that the shutdown began after both House and Senate Democrats rejected that resolution.

He pointed to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer as central figures in the decision to oppose the measure, leading to the government closure at the end of September.

House Speaker Mike Johnson: “Voters are going to remember which political party played games with their lives.” pic.twitter.com/aJRRRsvynX

— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) November 13, 2025

Following the vote, House Republican leadership issued an official statement summarizing the party’s position on the shutdown and its conclusion.

“The Democrat Shutdown is finally over thanks to House and Senate Republicans. There is absolutely no question now that Democrats are responsible for millions of American families going hungry, millions of travelers left stranded in airports, and our troops left wondering if they would receive their next paycheck. It was the Democrat Party that voted 15 times to keep the government closed and force the longest shutdown in U.S. history.

“All of it was pointless and utterly foolish. Democrats admitted they used the American people as ‘leverage’ and hurt their constituents on purpose — but they got nothing for their selfish political stunt. Voters will remember which party played political games in an attempt to ‘look tough’ to their base, while real people suffered.

“Now that Republicans have succeeded in ending the Democrat Shutdown, we look forward to continuing our important legislative work delivering results for the American people.”

My joint statement with Leader @SteveScalise, @GOPMajorityWhip Tom Emmer, and @HouseGOP Chairwoman @RepLisaMcClain on House passage of the government funding bill to end the Democrat Shutdown and reopen the government ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ez6l9Rtrzh

— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) November 13, 2025

With the House vote completed, the funding bill proceeded to its final procedural steps. Republican leadership indicated that once the measure is fully enacted, the focus will shift back to the regular appropriations process, which was disrupted by the shutdown. The resolution funds the government temporarily while Congress continues negotiating longer-term budget agreements.