Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) interrupted a Home Republican press convention Wednesday, urging Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to “call the leadership of both parties” to discover a resolution to the federal government shutdown.
Houlahan’s interjection got here as Johnson began to take questions throughout a press convention on the Capitol steps, yelling over the primary reporter Johnson known as on and saying Johnson is “the Speaker for the whole House.”
“We’re having a press conference, thank you,” Johnson mentioned.
Houlahan continued, “I am part of the American people —”
“And you should respect free speech,” Johnson mentioned, saying he would “love to talk” to Houlahan in his workplace.
“Call the leadership of both parties and bring us together and solve this problem together,” Houlahan mentioned.
Johnson famous he, Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Senate Majority Chief John Thune (R-S.D.), and Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) all met with President Trump within the Oval Workplace within the days earlier than the shutdown began.
A Capitol Police officer approached Houlahan however retreated after she famous she is a member of Congress.
Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) interrupts Home GOP press convention, engages with Speaker Mike Johnson pic.twitter.com/3IxebpRHr7
— Emily Brooks (@emilybrooksnews) November 5, 2025
Wednesday marks the thirty sixth day of the federal government shutdown, making it the longest shutdown in historical past.
Via the shutdown, Republicans have known as on Senate Democrats to move a Republican-crafted “clean” stopgap to fund the federal government at present ranges by means of Nov. 21. Democrats have known as on Republicans to barter on well being care, notably on extending enhanced ObamaCare subsidies that expire on the finish of the 12 months, earlier than voting to fund the federal government.
“You voted to shut down the government. You voted to stop SNAP benefits,” Johnson advised Houlihan. “You voted to not pay the troops, not pay TSA and Border Patrol. You may regret it now, but that’s your vote, and it’s on the record.”
Johnson and Houlihan talked over one another.
“You are absolutely misrepresenting history, sir, and you’re dividing the American people unnecessarily,” Houlahan mentioned. “I do not regret anything. It is important that we unify and that we work together as both parties for the American people.”
After she walked away from the press convention, Houlahan advised The Hill that she selected to interrupt as a result of she had no indication Johnson had talked to the Democratic leaders “in a serious way about trying to come to a compromise.”
“This is not a mandate. This president has no mandate. These issues are real issues. They deserve to have real conversations. We deserve to have conversations across with the Senate and with the House,” Houlahan mentioned.
She pointed to decisive Democratic wins in Tuesday’s elections in New Jersey, Virginia, and elsewhere, saying Johnson was making an attempt to “gaslight the American people about the reality.”
Houlahan rejected Republicans’ calls for that negotiations start solely after Democrats vote to open the federal government.
“This administration has been completely untrustworthy, has shown over and over again that they do nothing but renege on their promises,” she mentioned. “He should be just as angry as I am. He’s the Speaker of the House, and he has abdicated his authority, his responsibility, the authority and the responsibility of this Congress to be the power of the purse.”
