Newsom Blasts ‘Pathetic Surrender’ as Democrats Split Over Shutdown Deal
California Governor Gavin Newsom erupted on Sunday night after the Senate passed a bipartisan stopgap deal to end the nation’s longest government shutdown — calling the compromise “pathetic” and branding it a Democratic surrender to Donald Trump’s demands.
The Senate’s 60–40 vote — with eight Democrats breaking ranks to side with Republicans — would temporarily reopen the government through January 30, but it left out one crucial element: the extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits that millions of Americans rely on to keep their health insurance affordable.
Trump has refused to sign any funding bill that includes the Obamacare subsidy renewal, plunging Washington into a seven-week shutdown that’s crippled federal services, stalled paychecks, and sent food aid programs into chaos.
“America Deserves Better”
Minutes after the vote, Newsom took to X to blast his own party’s negotiators.
“America deserves better,” he wrote.
In a follow-up post from his press office, the message was even sharper: “Pathetic. This isn’t a deal. It’s a surrender. Don’t bend the knee!”
The posts went viral, instantly reigniting tensions between establishment Democrats on Capitol Hill and the party’s more progressive governors — many of whom see the compromise as a political gift to Trump.
“Trump and his Republican Congress are making healthcare more expensive for the middle class and ending it for working families,” Pritzker said. “Time for Democrats to stand tall for affordable healthcare.”
The Senate deal funds most federal agencies through January 30, with a vague pledge from Senate Majority Leader John Thune to hold a “future vote” on extending health insurance subsidies. But critics say that promise isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on.
“A totally meaningless gesture,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders, warning that the GOP-controlled House would never take up such legislation — and even if it did, Trump “certainly will not sign it.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also voted no, condemning the bill for failing to meet the basic needs of working Americans.
“We had a chance to end the shutdown and protect families at the same time,” Schumer said on the Senate floor. “Republicans turned that chance into a charade.”
For weeks, Democrats had insisted they would not support any funding measure that left out an ACA subsidy extension. But with federal workers missing multiple paychecks and political pressure mounting, a faction of centrist Democrats — led by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, along with Maine’s Angus King — crossed the aisle to craft what they called a “pragmatic restart.”
To Newsom and others, it looked more like capitulation.
In a blow to Trump and OMB Director Russell Vought, the bipartisan deal ensures that federal employees who were fired by the Trump administration during the shutdown are rehired and receive backpay. Vought had sought to lay off as many as 10,000 workers.
The Governors Step Into the Void
The California and Illinois governors have become the loudest Democratic counterweights to the Senate’s cautious approach — and, in Newsom’s case, possible 2028 presidential contenders staking out the moral high ground.
Newsom reposted a clip of House Speaker Mike Johnson refusing to guarantee a vote on Obamacare subsidies, captioning it simply: “Just going to leave this one here.” Hours later, he followed up with a single word: “Pathetic.”
His criticism underscores a growing divide between state-level Democratic leadership — who have positioned themselves as defenders of progressive policy under Trump’s second term — and congressional Democrats struggling to function under GOP dominance in both chambers.
The Fallout in Washington
The House must now pass the Senate bill and send it to Trump’s desk, though it’s unclear when or if that will happen. Trump told reporters Sunday night that “it looks like we’re getting close to the shutdown ending,” but offered no assurances about the ACA subsidies.
The White House has already claimed victory, calling the deal proof that “Democrats blinked first.”
Yet in a twist, the bipartisan agreement also forces the administration to rehire and compensate federal workers who were fired during the shutdown — a setback for Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought, who had pushed to permanently lay off 10,000 employees as part of Trump’s “shutdown purge.”
“It’s a slap in the face to Trump’s austerity agenda,” one Senate aide told Politico.
More than 20 million Americans could see their health premiums skyrocket if the ACA subsidies expire at year’s end. For Democrats, the issue isn’t just policy — it’s political survival.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries made it clear that his caucus won’t go along quietly.
“We will not support spending legislation advanced by Senate Republicans that fails to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits,” Jeffries declared. “We will fight the GOP bill in the House.”
Sanders, too, said Democrats risked losing moral credibility by “caving to Trump’s hostage tactics.”
“It would be a horrific mistake to surrender now,” he said.
A wink and a nod to deal with this health care crisis later – with no actual guarantees – is just not enough for me or the Wisconsin families I work for.
I refuse to sign off on a deal that doesn’t lower working families’ health care costs.
For Newsom, the shutdown fight is more than a budget battle — it’s a referendum on how Democrats stand up to Trump’s authoritarian playbook.
“America deserves better,” he repeated Sunday night, as #PatheticDeal trended on X.
The California governor may not have a vote in the Senate, but his message resonated across the left: Democrats can’t win the moral argument by compromising with chaos.
The shutdown may be ending soon — but the Democratic civil war over how it ends is just getting started.
Carter P. Hayes is a distinguished magazine journalist renowned for his captivating storytelling and commitment to the art of journalism. From a young age, he displayed an innate curiosity and an eye for detail—qualities that would later shape his unique journalistic style. After earning a degree in journalism, Hayes honed his skills in various editorial positions, contributing to both regional and national publications. Throughout his career, he became known for his powerful feature stories and his thoughtful exploration of complex subjects. Now writing for a top-tier magazine, Hayes continues to engage and enlighten readers with articles that combine in-depth investigation with rich, human-centered narratives.
View all posts by Gregory S. Caine
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