GOP Blames “No Kings” Protests for Prolonging Government Shutdown

Republican leaders say Saturday’s “No Kings” protests are fueling Democratic resistance to ending the ongoing government shutdown. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune argue that Democrats are more focused on appeasing their liberal base than negotiating a reopening deal.

“For many of our Democrat colleagues, tomorrow is about creating a spectacle,” Johnson said Friday, accusing Democrats of stalling to align with anti-Trump demonstrators. He claimed that protest organizers are encouraging the shutdown and have “distributed talking points cheering it on.”

The “No Kings” coalition, which led nationwide protests denouncing authoritarianism and the Trump administration’s policies, dismissed Johnson’s remarks. In a statement, they said, “Speaker Johnson is running out of excuses for keeping the government shut down,” adding that instead of helping working families, he is targeting Americans exercising their right to protest.

Johnson labeled the demonstration a “hate America rally,” accusing the organizers of representing “Marxists, socialists, antifa advocates, anarchists, and the pro-Hamas wing of the far left.” He warned that the movement rejects American values like individual freedom, limited government, and the rule of law.

Critics of the protests noted that Trump’s executive actions continue to face legal challenges, contradicting claims of authoritarianism. Still, the “No Kings” organizers allege the administration is attacking immigrant families, undermining democratic institutions, and increasing inequality. New polling indicates rising public frustration with Democrats over the shutdown, which GOP leaders claim is being prolonged to score political points with anti-Trump factions.