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.
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.
But viewers weren't finished.
They chastised Pence for lying as well.
Some commended Chris Wallace for holding Pence accountable.
The shutdown continues.
@lpeterp/Bluesky
@FPWellman/X
@bobsbeatgmail.com5/Threads