In a fiery interview on Fox Business on October 21, 2025, House Speaker Mike Johnson claimed that Democrats were prolonging the federal government shutdown because they feared backlash from their party’s far-left wing. He said, “This is the first time in history that any party has chosen to shut the government down over a clean continuing resolution. They're playing a game, and it's very simple.” Johnson added that “There’ll be a price to pay” for what he described as political cowardice and obstruction.