'It's backfiring': Lindsey Graham tells Fox News shutdown to end 'today'

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) made a bold prediction Sunday that the ongoing government shutdown would end “today,” while accusing Democratic lawmakers of engaging in what he called “political terrorism.”

Now on its 40th day, the ongoing government shutdown has officially become the single-longest shutdown in U.S. history. It began on Oct. 1 after Democrats refused to back any spending package that did not include an extension of Obamacare subsidies, which, if allowed to expire, will see 4 million Americans lose health insurance and hike premiums by 114% for millions more.

“I think this madness ends today! This political terrorism Democrats have been using – shutting down airports, people not getting paid, SNAP benefits going away – it's backfiring,” Graham said Sunday, speaking with Fox Business’ Maria Bartiromo.

“They want us to do two things by terrorizing the country: repeal the $1.5 trillion in savings we had from the Big Beautiful Bill... and they also want us to continue for another year Obamacare, which is the biggest scam on the planet!”

Graham went on to back a new proposal President Donald Trump had floated on Saturday to, instead of funding an extension to Obamacare subsidies, send that money directly to Americans in a multi-billion dollar payout, similar to the stimulus checks Americans received during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Senate is set to convene Sunday at 1:30 p.m. EST, and Bartiromo, attempting to clarify Graham’s statement, asked him to affirm his statement.

“Yes, today – the government will re-open today!” Graham said.

“We're not going to talk about health care until it does, and when it does, Donald Trump is going to lead this nation to change Obamacare where all the money goes to the seven-top insurance companies in the world, they have been enriched from 500% to 1,000% increase in stock while premiums under Obamacare have over doubled. Trump's going to end that!”