There is a clear way out of the ongoing partial government shutdown, but it will involve House Speaker Nancy Pelosi putting all her personal differences with President Donald Trump on the side and negotiating, House Minority Whip Steve Scalise said Thursday.
"President Trump has been here in Washington, stayed here throughout Christmas," the Louisiana Republican told Fox News' "America's Newsroom." "He has said over and over again he is willing to negotiate on all terms, on all fronts. He put DACA on the table on Saturday."
He pointed out that Trump spoke about his plans at 4:07 p.m., but at 4 p.m., Pelosi put out a statement opposing what Trump had not suggested yet.
"That just shows she has absolutely no incentive or interest in solving this problem," said Scalise. "The country demands she puts those differences on the side, and put some kind of offer on the table to secure our nation's border."
Pelosi and other Democrats have been pushing for the government to reopen before beginning negotiations, but Scalise said she hasn't put a "single dollar" forward for border security and physical barriers.
"There is a growing number of Democrats here in the House that are finally saying enough is enough and it's time for Nancy Pelosi to put something on the table," said Scalise. "They support the president's request for a wall."
He also panned Pelosi's decision revoking Trump's invitation to the House chamber to give the State of the Union address until after the shutdown ends.
"It is disgraceful and unbecoming of the office of Speaker," he said. "Nancy Pelosi aligned herself with the most far left radical elements of her own caucus. It is a dangerous place to be to say you will oppose national security."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.