U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media before departing for a state visit to Britain, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., September 16, 2025. REUTERS/Ken Cedeno
A prominent Democratic congressman is threatening to vote to shut down the federal government in response to President Donald Trump’s threat to target a journalist over a question about hate speech.
ABC News’ Jonathan Karl asked the president about Attorney General Pam Bondi’s claim that she will target those who engage in hate speech, which is largely constitutionally protected. Trump suggested the administration could go after the reporter.
“We’ll probably go after people like you because you treat me so unfairly. It’s hate. You have a lot of hate in your heart,” the president told Karl.
The federal government is again poised to shut down unless Speaker of the House Mike Johnson can pass legislation to fund the government. The bill, a 91-page continuing resolution, was published Tuesday afternoon. It pushes a shutdown deadline from Oct. 1 to Nov. 21.
READ MORE: ‘You Have a Lot of Hate’: Trump Threatens Reporter After Hate Speech Question
According to Politico, the bill would “provide $30 million for lawmaker security and a total of $58 million in security assistance the White House requested for the Supreme Court and executive branch.”
“While GOP leaders plan to call a floor vote later this week, it’s still unclear whether Democrats will vote in support of the bill, with President Donald Trump calling on congressional Republicans to stiff-arm the minority party in government funding negotiations.”
In response to Trump’s comment, U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell asked, “How can we fund this? I am being asked this week to fund a government that locks up a reporter Trump doesn’t like. This isn’t a close call folks.”
The Trump administration has not yet actually locked up a reporter because the president does not like them, but critics, including California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, appeared to suggest that was the implied threat that Trump was making.
“Donald Trump says he will send the DOJ after the press if they say things he doesn’t like,” Newsom declared.
CNN chief political analyst David Axelrod asked, “So is the AG going to go after journalists who displease the @POTUS?”
READ MORE: ‘Not a Monarchy’: Trump’s Lawsuit Against NYT Sparks Mockery — and Free Speech Warnings