Government shutdown updates: Leavitt says Trump exploring cutting aid to Portland

Vice President JD Vance said that he is speaking to a "number" of Democratic and Republican colleagues to help end the government shutdown.

He added that if House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries "helps" them reopen the government, "the sombrero memes will stop."

Vance referred to a deepfake video generated by artificial intelligence, shared by Trump on Monday night, that disparaged Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

A reporter asked Vance about Trump's comments that the federal government would be laying off many workers and implying those affected workers would be Democrats.

"We're not targeting federal agencies based on politics," the vice president said. "We're not targeting federal agencies based on politics. We're targeting the people's government so that it as much if possible of the essential services get to continue to function."

Vice President JD Vance was asked about the federal government's freezing of New York's transit infrastructure and if the move was done to "squeeze Chuck Schumer's home state until he blinks."

The vice president didn't answer the question, remarking that White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought was "heartbroken about the fact that he's unable to give certain things to certain constituencies."

"We want to do everything that we can to help the American people. But when the Democrats shut down the government, we have to actually do a little triage to make sure the most critical and most essential services are provided," Vance said.

Vice President JD Vance, while speaking at a White House press briefing, said that he does not think the government shutdown will be long.

"I don't know, I can't predict what Congressional Democrats are going to do," Vance said.

"I actually don't think it's going to be that long of a shutdown," Vance said.

Vance also continued to falsely claim that Democrats want to give free health care to those without legal status.