As Dems Prepare To Force A Government Shutdown, Poll Suggests The People Aren’t Falling In Line

With just hours to go before the looming government shutdown is expected to kick in, a poll by The New York Times suggests that most voters would actually prefer to see Democrats in Congress get to work and find a way to avoid it.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted a screenshot of a single poll question asking 1,075 voters which of the following statements “came closest” to an accurate representation of their opinion on the matter.

“New York Times Poll: 65% of Americans say, ‘the Democrats should not shut down the government, even if their demands are not met,’” Leavitt’s caption read.

New York Times Poll:

65% of Americans say, “the Democrats should not shut down the government, even if their demands are not met.” pic.twitter.com/x3CFjzqgm6

— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) September 30, 2025

The first choice read, “The Democrats should shut down the government if their demands are not met” — and just over one-fourth (27%) of respondents selected that answer. The second, which was chosen by 65% of respondents, read, “The Democrats should not shut down the government, even if their demands are not met.” Just under one-tenth (7%) of respondents did not choose one of the two options.

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Trump’s team shared the same data in graphic form:

???? POLL: 65% of Americans say Democrats SHOULD NOT shut down the government pic.twitter.com/9schOzvYfV

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 30, 2025

House Democrats are all-in on the imminent shutdown, and even shared a group photo celebrating their refusal to come to the table. “House Democrats are in DC and ready to cancel the cuts, lower the costs, save health care,” the caption claimed.

House Democrats are in DC and ready to cancel the cuts, lower the costs, save health care. pic.twitter.com/vnNRqGD3NS

— House Democrats (@HouseDemocrats) September 30, 2025

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who proved to be the weak link in the last shutdown standoff, has made it clear that he does not intend to budge this time. Indeed, after he argued that it was more important to make sure that the government was funded and people were paid — a position that the NYT poll suggests voters share — Schumer took a wave of backlash from within his own party for giving Republicans a win. That experience, coupled with an increasingly likely primary from someone further to the left — possibly from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) — has apparently galvanized Schumer to stand his ground in the current fight.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said as much on Tuesday, arguing that Schumer didn’t care if he was blamed for the shutdown because the optics were better for him if he was.

.@LeaderJohnThune: “Politically speaking, Chuck Schumer needs a Schumer Shutdown… This is a made-up problem by the Democrats, who desperately need to satisfy a political base that is hostile to Donald Trump… This doesn’t have anything to do with health care.” pic.twitter.com/BwNdzwqJtn

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 30, 2025

“I’m going to tell you, just in the Senate at least, politically speaking, Chuck Schumer needs a Schumer Shutdown,” Thune said. “And I think that’s what we’re probably careening toward. But it’s up to the Democrats. This bill — this 24 pages is sitting at the desk in the Senate right now. It could be picked up and passed, the government stays open, and we complete our appropriations work.”

“They have the same leverage on November the 21st that they have right now,” Thune said of the Democrats, adding, “… This is a made-up problem by the Democrats, who desperately need to satisfy a political base that is hostile to Donald Trump. That’s what this is about … This doesn’t have anything to do with health care.”