House Dem defends viral clash with Johnson after Capitol confrontation over shutdown

Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., defended Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson’s interruption of a news conference that went viral this week, arguing that her anger was justified because Johnson was unwilling to negotiate with Democratic Party leaders to reopen the government.

GOP lawmakers have argued that the two warring parties could agree on a budget resolution and negotiate future public health subsidies that Democrats have been waiting for. But Houlahan suggested he disagreed, even though Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer unveiled a plan Friday afternoon to extend those Obamacare subsidies for just one year and create a committee to negotiate how to handle the subsidies when the government reopens.

“Because I believe he is our Speaker, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and it is important that he does his job,” Houlahan said when asked why Johnson decided to cut short the news conference. “And as far as I can tell, in more than forty days [of the government shutdown]”He didn’t answer any phone calls and didn’t try to talk to more than half the country.”

The congressman was later pressed, saying, “If Democrats pass CR and treat health care separately, they can end this in the Senate.” “Why do you see these as connected?”

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“I believe they are inextricably linked,” Houlahan responded. “This is literally healthcare; it’s people’s livelihood and ability to succeed in our country, and I think it’s time to have that conversation.”

Houlahan said the Trump administration is “slowly strangling the American people” and is “trying to finish the job” by shutting down the government.

“For the last nine months this administration has been slowly strangling the American people,” he said. “The government is shutting down on its own and now it’s trying to complete the job.”

When he pushed further, Houlahan’s staff stepped in and told him he had to leave and couldn’t answer any more questions.

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The Democrat went viral earlier this week when House Speaker Johnson’s news conference outside the capitol building briefly descended into chaos when he got into a heated argument with the House Speaker demanding he meet with his caucus to end the shutdown. Houlahan was mocked and at one point Johnson told him to respect his rights to free speech.

Democratic Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (R) storms House Speaker Mike Johnson’s daily government shutdown press conference on November 5, 2025 (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images; Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

“You have to respect freedom of expression,” Houlahan responded. “I’m asking you a question, are you ready to meet with the other side? You represent all of us. You are the spokesperson for all of us, sir.”

Johnson wanted to take a question from a reporter but told them, “I can’t hear you because you have someone who doesn’t respect the rights of his colleagues.”

Meanwhile, Houlahan continued to shout over the speaker even as he tried to give orders.

“You not only have an obligation to lie to the American people, you have an obligation to call the leaders of both parties and bring us together and solve this problem together,” he shouted.

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The next day, Houlahan attended the Democratic Party’s own press conference on the steps of the capitol, during which there were no interruptions, according to recordings posted online. During his comments, Houlahan described the viral moment between himself and the speaker as a “dialogue.”

“I like to think of it as a dialogue rather than a confrontation.” he said The exchange between the two during the press conference. “He reminded me and the American people that he hasn’t really sat down and talked to Democratic leaders since before the shutdown. They refuse to sit down with us and they refuse to tell the American people the truth.”

Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Elkind and Kelly Phares contributed to this report.