JD Vance, the Vice President, openly criticized Democratic claims regarding the recent federal government shutdown during a press briefing on Wednesday, labeling the statements as misleading and politically motivated. Speaking to reporters, Vance contended that the narrative presented by top Democrats — including Vice President Kamala Harris, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries — was fundamentally false.
Breitbart News Washington Bureau Chief Matthew Boyle asked Vance to address two of the most widely circulated claims from Democratic leaders: that the shutdown was caused by Republicans and former President Trump, and that Republicans were blocking healthcare access for undocumented immigrants. Boyle noted that these assertions were dominating both political discourse and mainstream media coverage.
Vance strongly rejected these claims, asserting that the government closure was clearly the result of Democratic inaction. He cited vote totals in both the House and Senate, emphasizing that the overwhelming majority of Republicans in both chambers voted to reopen the government. “Nearly every House Republican voted to open the government,” Vance stated. “Almost every Senate Republican did the same, and even a few moderate Democrats joined us. Yet nearly every Senate Democrat voted to keep it closed. This is not a Republican shutdown — it is a Democrat shutdown, plain and simple.”
He further stressed that while political debate is natural and expected on various issues, the facts surrounding this shutdown were undeniable. “The President is ready to sign a bill reopening the government,” Vance explained. “All we need is a few more Democrats to cross the aisle. There’s no mystery here — Republicans have acted, Democrats are obstructing, and the country is paying the price.”
Turning to the issue of healthcare, Vance addressed Democratic claims that Republicans were attempting to deny medical coverage to undocumented immigrants. According to him, the legislative text and recent administrative actions tell a very different story. “Even some fact-checks have repeated Democratic talking points, ignoring the reality,” Vance said. “The truth is that Democrats have included provisions in their legislation to provide taxpayer-funded healthcare benefits to people who are in the country illegally.”
Vance elaborated that long hospital wait times, often seen in urban medical centers, are a direct consequence of expanded coverage for undocumented immigrants. He noted that the Biden administration had restored healthcare funding for these individuals, reversing policies implemented by the Trump administration. “Millions of undocumented immigrants were granted access to healthcare through these policies,” he added, “and Democrats now deny it, even though the evidence is clear and publicly documented.”
Criticizing the Democratic approach as deceptive, Vance accused them of employing sleight of hand to mislead the public. “They claim that the people receiving these benefits weren’t illegal immigrants,” he said. “But everyone knows the reality — it’s a lie. The Trump administration’s principle was simple: government resources should serve American citizens, not people who are here illegally.”
Vance concluded by drawing a stark contrast between the priorities of the two parties. “Democrats are willing to shut down the government to advance benefits for illegal aliens,” he said. “The contrast could not be clearer: Republicans want to reopen the government for the American people, Democrats are prioritizing non-citizens instead.”
Notably, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) had publicly acknowledged on Tuesday that Democratic leaders were advocating for healthcare access for everyone, including undocumented immigrants. Vance referenced this statement to underline his point, stating that the facts speak for themselves and contradict the narrative presented by left-leaning media outlets.
In the wake of his comments, political analysts are watching closely to see how this messaging might influence public opinion and affect negotiations moving forward. For Vance and other Republican leaders, the goal is clear: highlight Democratic responsibility for the shutdown while reinforcing the party’s position on prioritizing American citizens in federal policy decisions.