As the longest shutdown in American history rages on, the pressure is building on White House officials to endorse one of the bills passed by House Democrats to get it reopened.
Even Fox News is becoming incredulous at the Trump administration's insistence that $5 billion be allocated for a wall at the southern border that many believe would be ineffective and that the majority of Americans don't want.
Fox's Chris Wallace grilled Vice President Mike Pence as to why the White House refuses to prioritize reopening the government even with the assurance that negotiations on so-called border security would continue once the United States is functioning again.
Pence's answer didn't inspire much confidence.
Watch below.
Chris Wallace presses Pence: "You could open the government tomorrow" ... "Isn't it really that you just want the l… https://t.co/eN3QgfblMw— Matt Shuham (@Matt Shuham) 1548000446.0
After Pence mentioned that 800,000 workers want leadership to "find a way" to reopen the government, Wallace reminded him that
"You could open the government tomorrow. The house has passed bills to open the government tomorrow, why don't you sign them and open the government and then you could negotiate about this?"
Pence was clearly taken off guard. After stammering for a few moments, the Vice President reverted back to the tired talking point that Americans want border security and Donald Trump would be the man to give it to them.
Twitter wasn't impressed.
@mattshuham @joncoopertweets Pence all but said it, Trump is using ppl as hostages to get what he wants.— LAN J (@LAN J) 1548070476.0
@mattshuham He is lying, he knows he’s lying. She never said no money for border security. That’s an out right lie.— Paul Hogue (@Paul Hogue) 1548081528.0
@mattshuham Yes.....they are using federal workers for leverage. What type of governance is this. Sounds like the mob.— Twilli6745 (@Twilli6745) 1548080443.0
@mattshuham Listen to Pence stutter when Chris presses him— Paula Cunningham (@Paula Cunningham) 1548080715.0
@mattshuham They are losing with the #TrumpShutdown. The polls & approval ratings slowly dropping more. Even some o… https://t.co/hBTz3J6rUo— John Paul Rodriguez (@John Paul Rodriguez) 1548058451.0
But viewers weren't finished.
They chastised Pence for lying as well.
@mattshuham He lies. Pelosi said no wall, not no border security— CarolT (@CarolT) 1548080364.0
@mattshuham Pence just lied! Pelosi said no to a wall but Pence said she said no to wall and border security.— Lynne Stambaugh (@Lynne Stambaugh) 1548024081.0
Some commended Chris Wallace for holding Pence accountable.
@mattshuham First, thank you to Chris Wallace for pressing the @VP. @SpeakerPelosi would not block the vote; she is… https://t.co/C8aEAynCrV— Brett DiFrischia (@Brett DiFrischia) 1548080469.0
@mattshuham Thank you Chris Wallace for being 1 trying to hold the administration accountable. Unfortunately that i… https://t.co/tZwEbHiQEI— deelane (@deelane) 1548079603.0
@mattshuham Thank you Chris Wallace for being 1 trying to hold the administration accountable. Unfortunately that i… https://t.co/tZwEbHiQEI— deelane (@deelane) 1548079603.0
The shutdown continues.