‘I’m Sorry. I’m Aggravated’: Mike Johnson Has to Calm Himself Down While Going Off on Schumer Over Shutdown

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) had to take a moment to bring the temperature down a notch as he blasted Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) over the current government shutdown on Wednesday.

While speaking with the press on Wednesday, Johnson laid blame for the eight-days-and-counting shutdown at the feet of Schumer. The Republican leader accused Schumer of playing politics, noting his past opposition to government shutdowns. Schumer and Democrats are currently demanding an extension to Affordable Care Act subsidies as part of a funding deal.

Johnson said:

We’ve shown you the highlight reel. Chuck Schumer gave impassioned speeches as recently as seven months ago. In March of this year, he said, we have to keep the government open. It would be dangerous and harmful to the American people. He said after the vote. He went on CNN and said, I’m proud of that vote. I didn’t like it, but we had to do that. He was right then. He is not right now. We’re not asking the Democrats to do anything heroic.

Johnson urged Democrats to “keep the government open” and he took a moment to apologize for being so “aggravated.”

He said:

I’m sorry, I’m aggravated. The first responsibility of the government is to protect the people. And the people who are supposed to be protected are being completely cheated by Democrats in the Senate because they wanna play politics. They hate Donald Trump! I mean, they have Trump Derangement Syndrome! It’s very real! Listen to their own comments. And they have to show a fight at any cost.

Schumer made it clear in a video posted to social media on Wednesday that he and Democrats have no intention on budging. The senator argued millions will see major increases in their insurance costs when the ACA subsidies expire.

“Donald Trump and the Republican Party are hell-bent on taking health care away from 60 million people, closing community clinics, rural hospitals, nursing homes, all so they can keep giving tax breaks to their billionaire friends. It’s a disgrace,” he said. “So Democrats have three words for this. No f**king way. It’s literally life or death, we will not let Republicans blow up our healthcare system.”

Watch above via CSPAN.