The federal government shutdown is dragging on as lawmakers remain deadlocked until at least next month, threatening widespread economic harm and testing public patience.
In an article for MSNBC published Tuesday, political commentator Steve Benen argued that House Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) refusal to bring lawmakers back to Washington has less to do with the government shutdown and more to do with protecting President Donald Trump, and himself, from political embarrassment.
Benen said Johnson is effectively confirming Trump’s recent “humiliating joke” that the president, not the speaker, is the one truly in charge. Rather than disproving that claim by asserting his authority, Johnson appears content to let the House sit idle, reinforcing the image of a subservient leader unwilling to challenge Trump’s dominance.
"Donald Trump has privately joked, 'I’m the speaker and the president.' Johnson could easily disprove the humiliating joke, but he’s choosing not to," the article read.
Benen contrasted Johnson’s inaction with former President Harry Truman’s famous criticism of a “do-nothing Congress,” noting that while lawmakers in Truman’s day at least showed up to work, today’s Republican-led House has been absent for weeks.
After brief activity in September, Johnson sent members home and has yet to call them back, claiming it would be inappropriate to hold a “regular legislative session” during a government shutdown.
In reality, Benen wrote, the House could be working but Johnson has “simply chosen to keep members away.”
The MSNBC writer suggested that Johnson’s motivations are political: allowing the House to reconvene would force him to swear in newly elected Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.), who plans to sign a discharge petition to compel a vote on releasing files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein – a move Johnson likely wants to avoid.
By keeping Congress “on ice,” Benen concluded, Johnson is not only weakening his own office and diminishing Congress’s role but also demonstrating how far he is willing to go to preserve Trump’s favor, even at the cost of legislative paralysis.