In a press briefing marked by pointed accusations and economic urgency, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt laid bare the toll of what she repeatedly termed the “Democrat Shutdown,” now officially the longest government shutdown in U.S. history at 43 days.
With clarity and command, Leavitt presented a sobering picture of nationwide consequences, from delayed flights to empty grocery shelves, laying blame squarely at the feet of congressional Democrats.
Leavitt’s remarks arrived on the heels of fresh data from the Small Business Optimism Index and the Federal Reserve, both indicating significant economic strain stemming from the prolonged shutdown.
The Federal Reserve went further, with Chair Jerome Powell warning that while recovery will likely begin once the government reopens, not all losses will be recouped. The Congressional Budget Office echoed this concern, estimating between $7 billion and $14 billion in permanent GDP loss, with fourth-quarter GDP growth potentially slashed by up to 2%.
Leavitt outlined a series of tangible consequences that have unfolded in real-time. “Hundreds of thousands of federal employees have missed their paychecks,” she stated, citing over $10 billion in lost wages and benefits.
SNAP benefits for low-income families have gone undelivered, airports have seen nearly 20,000 delayed flights, and Airlines for America estimates that travel disruptions will touch more than 5.2 million passengers by the end of the crisis. These cascading effects have struck every level of the economy—from the federal workforce to subcontractors to local businesses dependent on government spending.
But while her tone was urgent, Leavitt struck a note of cautious optimism. She expressed confidence that the crisis would end imminently, touting a “clean CR” (continuing resolution) backed by President Trump and congressional Republicans. “Just look at the vote count,” she said firmly, emphasizing the unified Republican support for the measure and painting Democrats as the primary obstructionists.
In a pivot from crisis to policy, Leavitt turned attention to President Trump’s economic platform, framing it as a direct contrast to Democratic leadership. At the center: a sweeping package of middle-class tax cuts—no tax on tips, overtime, or Social Security—designed to put more money directly into Americans’ hands.
Coupled with inflation comparisons—2.5% under Trump versus an average of 5% under Biden—Leavitt made a case for Trump’s economic stewardship, highlighting energy independence and regulatory rollbacks as key drivers of affordability.
Her final salvo was sharp: “The notion that the same Democrats who shut down the federal government, sabotaged our economy, robbed people of their paychecks, and helped Joe Biden ratchet up inflation to 9% are now suddenly affordability champions is completely absurd.”
