Top Republican Accuses Dems of ‘Hostage Taking’ to Force Govt Shutdown

Alex Griffing Sep 29th, 2025, 6:03 pm

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) raged at Democrats on Monday outside the White House and accused them of “hostage taking” in the ongoing budget negotiations.

CNN’s Jake Tapper covered to ongoing negotiations to avert a looming government shutdown and noted, “Top Democrats and Republicans from Congress placing blame on each other for an increasingly likely partial federal government shutdown after meeting with President Trump at the White House earlier today. Take a listen to Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota just moments ago.” He then played a clip of Thune:

It is totally up to the Democrats, because right now they are the only thing

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