Senator John Kennedy has blasted Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and the Democrats, accusing them of lying about the ongoing partial government shutdown that has left the Department of Homeland Security severely underfunded.
In a fiery Fox News appearance on Tuesday, Kennedy did not hold back.
“He is LYING, he’s lying like fish SWIM!” the Louisiana senator declared while discussing the 38-day shutdown and the chaos it has caused at airports nationwide.
Kennedy pointed out that Democrats had previously voted to fund DHS, only to back away, leaving TSA officers working without pay and causing long security lines and flight delays.
WATCH:
BREAKING: Sen. John Kennedy GOES BALLISTIC on Chuck Schumer and the Democrats for lying about the DHS shutdown
“He is LYING, he’s lying like fish SWIM!”
Nobody should vote Democrat in 2026. All they do is betray America. pic.twitter.com/fMKudwlU7f
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 24, 2026
The senator also referenced a two-step proposal he and Sen. Ted Cruz had pitched to Senate GOP leadership and President Trump: first, fund all of DHS except ICE (including TSA, which Democrats had already agreed to), then use the reconciliation process to fully fund ICE and pass parts of the SAVE America Act with Republican votes only.
President Donald Trump has rejected any compromise that does not fully fund ICE and border security measures, insisting lawmakers stay in Washington through Easter break to deliver real solutions rather than temporary patches.
As the partial government shutdown reached Day 38 on Tuesday, severe staffing shortages at the Transportation Security Administration have triggered long security lines and flight delays at airports nationwide, with some travelers reporting waits stretching for hours and lines spilling outside terminals at major hubs.
Hundreds of TSA officers have reportedly quit or gone on extended leave amid the uncertainty, straining operations and creating widespread travel headaches for Americans.
President Trump moved quickly to ease the chaos by directing ICE agents to assist overwhelmed TSA personnel at key airports starting Monday.
Democrats are prolonging the shutdown to shield illegal immigrants rather than protect American citizens and secure elections.
The post WATCH: Sen. John Kennedy GOES OFF on Chuck Schumer Over DHS Shutdown Lies, ‘Lying Like Fish Swim!’ appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.