A Republican senator and President Donald Trump ally snapped at the anchor of a right-wing network who asked about his party's blame for the government shutdown during a live interview.
Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) got defensive after NewsNation anchor Leland Vittert asked Wednesday night: “How long can you afford this PR crisis?”
Marshall was upset over the question and responded saying, "Leland, you’re a better journalist than this!" The Daily Beast reported.
Vittert responded to Marshall's comment and pressed again.
“You’re right, I am a better journalist,” Vittert said. “I’m also a good enough journalist to know how things are playing politically and don’t ask me, ask the president of the United States.”
The government shutdown is now the longest in U.S. history, with Trump breaking his own first-term record at now the 37th day of the stalemate.
Marshall didn't back down on defending his party.
"But I really think you're complaining a lot of different things... I think we need to go ack to why this is important that Republicans want to work towards a balanced budget," Marshall said.
"Yes, we want to get the government open, but we're not going to do it at the expense of compromising more of a budget. We're not going to get the Democrats another $1.5 trillion. So we're not going to let them kidnap us, like this is not going to negotiate with kidnappers, we're not going to. Once they open the government, work on these other issues."
Polls indicate that Americans believe Republicans are to blame for the ongoing shutdown. Trump has also reportedly told senators privately that the party's stance on the federal government shutdown likely played a big role in Tuesday's election losses.