Trump Ally Lashes Out as NewsNation Anchor Confronts Him Over Shutdown PR Crisis'

"After an election night that saw Democratic landslides in races that were supposed to be close and losses for causes Trump heavily supported, the president gave a talk to Senate Republicans at the White House, acknowledging the negative effects of the government shutdown on Republicans. I think if you read the pollsters, the shutdown was a big factor, negative for the Republicans, and that was a big factor, Trump said."

"LELAND VITTERT: How much longer, though, are the American people going to suffer? And we've talked about this for the past couple of weeks on the show, right? We've already have food stamps running out, if not now, certainly by Thanksgiving. You're going to have 10% fewer flights. By Thanksgiving, there is going to be news anchors doing a show in the morning from an airport and in the afternoon from a food pantry."

"Now, Leland, you're a better journalist than this! You know it takes 60 votes in the Senate to fund the government, okay? So despite us controlling the House and the White House and the Senate, it takes sixty votes to do that. LELAND VITTERT: You're right, you're right. I am a better journalist. And I guess implying that I was saying that you don't need seven democratic votes. You do. I'm also a good enough journalist to know how things are playing politically."

Democratic candidates achieved unexpected landslides, and several causes supported by Trump lost, prompting President Trump to tell Senate Republicans that polls show the government shutdown hurt Republican prospects. NewsNation anchor Leland Vittert pressed Senator Roger Marshall on the political and human consequences of the shutdown, citing expiring food stamps, fewer flights and increased demand at food pantries. Marshall rejected the framing as a GOP PR crisis and emphasized that funding the government requires 60 Senate votes, noting Republican control of the House and White House does not change that procedural reality. The interview featured a tense exchange over responsibility and political impact.

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