This piece describes a tense White House press appearance where Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Vice President JD Vance pushed back at reporters who focused questions on what the administration could do to lessen the impact of a government shutdown that Democrats engineered, arguing the real responsibility lies with Senate Democrats and urging passage of a Clean Continuing Resolution.
Outside the White House, Sean Duffy confronted members of the press about persistent questions on how the administration plans to soften the effects of the shutdown. He was animated and plainly frustrated, arguing reporters were treating the administration differently than previous shutdowns and effectively giving Democrats a pass. His core point was simple: the pain could end immediately if Democrats would vote to open the government.
“So, we are doing all we can to work with our partners to keep things running smoothly, but in the end, we can only go so far,” Duffy said. “I love that you guys are asking these questions about what we can do to make this less painful, but there is an easy, painless solution: pass the Clean CR [Clean Resolution].” He reminded the press that the obligation to reopen the government sits with the party that chose to shut it down.
Duffy pressed the contrast between media reaction in past shutdowns and the sort of muted response he was seeing now. “I mean, I was part of some shutdowns myself in Congress, and the tone of the press corps is very, very different in this one,” he said. “You were rabid against Republicans who voted not to open the government up. And it seems like everyone’s so docile. And so, what is the president going to do to alleviate the pain?” Those words were meant to call out inconsistency and to shift focus back to who is responsible.
He also compared how this administration is managing public access to certain sites, noting differences with a prior shutdown under a Democratic president. Duffy emphasized that the administration has kept memorials and museums open where possible, as part of an effort to limit disruption to everyday Americans. That, he argued, shows a willingness to minimize harm even while Democrats refuse a simple resolution to reopen government functions.
“We didn’t close those down. This administration is doing everything it can to alleviate the pain on American people,” Duffy explained. “Again, it’s an easy, easy answer. Go ask the Democrats that question. Say ‘What are you going to do to make sure that people receive SNAP benefits this Saturday?'” He repeatedly redirected responsibility, insisting reporters should press Democratic leaders on their choices rather than demand unilateral fixes from the White House.
When Vice President JD Vance stepped up, he framed the standoff as a matter of principle and strategy, not mere negotiation theater. Vance argued that rewarding shutdown tactics would create a dangerous precedent where the other party can game the system by threatening disruptions until their demands are met. His remarks stressed that the administration will not underwrite political hostage-taking, and that conceding now would invite repeated crises.
“Let’s sit down and come to a compromise and work it out,” Vance said. “And you know what the Democrats’ response to that is, ‘Give us everything we want or we are going to shut down the government and keep it shut down.’ That is not reasonable behavior…that is the way that the Democrats have operated.” He warned the press that accepting this tactic would embolden future coercion and repeated shutdowns.
“They are trying to take a hostage and we can’t reward that behavior,” he added. “If we do that. If we say yes, of course, we will give you everything you want if you reopen the government. You know what’s going to happen? In three months, they are going to come back to the administration, and they are going to say, ‘We’re going to shut down the aviation industry. We’re going to deny people’s SNAP benefits unless you give us exactly what we want. That’s how a child behaves.'” Vance used blunt language to underline the stakes and the potential cycle of capitulation.
At the event, union leadership also pushed for an immediate end to the shutdown by urging lawmakers to act responsibly. Teamsters Union President Sean O’Brien called for politicians to quit putting working families in the middle of a political fight and to pass a clean measure that reopens government functions without extra bargaining chips. The union’s intervention framed the shutdown as a real-world harm done to everyday people, not an abstract policy debate.
“Get to the table, negotiate a deal, do not put working people in the middle of a problem they should not be in there. Think about the families who will be affected…put the politics aside…pass a clean CR right now.”
Thursday marked the 30th day of the shutdown, and administration officials used the milestone to keep pressing their case: reopen government operations now, and then settle broader disputes through regular legislative channels. The message was consistent and tactical—refuse to reward brinkmanship while spotlighting the practical choices that would end the crisis for American families.
The exchanges at the press line were sharp, direct, and unambiguous about who the White House sees as responsible. Reporters were challenged to ask Democrats the same tough questions they asked Republicans in previous shutdowns, and the administration made clear it will not be the only side expected to carry the burden of resolving a crisis engineered by the opposing party.
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