Speaker Mike Johnson took aim at Democrats and mainstream media on Thursday, accusing them of misleading about illegal immigrants benefiting from taxpayer-funded health care. According to Johnson, he and other Republican leaders are pushing back against a Democratic plan that aims to restore $20 billion in medical support for non-citizens, including undocumented immigrants, as part of negotiations to reopen the government. In conversations with the Daily Caller News Foundation, Johnson expressed concerns over how the media has handled the shutdown narrative, suggesting there’s a tendency to protect Democratic viewpoints while neglecting contrasting perspectives.

“It’s pretty clear; the mainstream media is just echoing Democrat talking points,” Johnson remarked. “We need to counter that because it seems like the whole media establishment is covering for the Democrats and their inaccuracies.”

He criticized ABC, CNN, CBS, and MSNBC for not even making an effort to present balanced views anymore, calling it a “one-sided parade.”

Johnson’s comments came on the second day of a government shutdown, triggered largely by Senate Democrats dismissing a straightforward, bipartisan funding bill until late November. Yet, he and Senate Majority Leader John Tune have remained firm in their stance to find a resolution with Democrats.

During a Thursday press conference, CNN cut off Johnson as he discussed the Democratic plan, which purportedly includes healthcare benefits for illegal immigrants. A CNN anchor attempted to fact-check him, despite a colleague acknowledging the ongoing Democratic effort to strip provisions affecting certain states that provide emergency Medicaid for undocumented individuals.

Johnson took to social media, asserting, “CNN is not a legitimate news organization. They cut off Republican discussions, omit the truth, and obfuscate undeniable facts.” He also pointed out specific claims in the Democrats’ proposal that indicate a plan to allocate $200 billion for healthcare subsidies for non-citizens.

The Democratic proposal also involves reinstating funding for foreign assistance, public broadcasting, eliminating a $50 million rural health fund, and extending Obamacare subsidies permanently.

Additionally, Johnson criticized George Stephanopoulos from ABC for misrepresenting the healthcare provisions aimed at illegal immigrants during an interview. He noted that many media platforms have been soft on Democrats, allowing them an easy pass during interviews.

Johnson highlighted that a July reform made by Republicans regarding Medicaid would be undone by the Democrats’ counterproposal, which would again allow taxpayer-funded healthcare for non-citizens, including those in the country illegally.

Nearly all House Democrats had voted against a two-month funding extension in mid-September to prevent further government shutdowns. Democrats are now seeking to eliminate Republican language that reduces Medicaid payments to states that have broadened access or provide emergency coverage for undocumented immigrants.

Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance remarked that a considerable amount of emergency medical care is being supplied to illegal immigrants instead of American citizens, funded by federal resources.

The Democratic funding strategy aims to lift new restrictions that had limited most non-citizens from Medicare and Medicaid benefits. Their proposal also looks to revive a provision that allows certain states to use Medicaid for undocumented individuals.

The financial commitment Democrats are suggesting for non-citizen health benefits is approximately equivalent to the $195 billion necessary to support the children’s health insurance program over the upcoming decade, according to a White House note.

Johnson further criticized his Democratic peers for potentially misunderstanding their own funding proposals. “Some Democrats are deliberately misleading the public while others don’t seem to grasp the basic language of the laws they’ve written,” he noted.

On the other side, some Democrats defended extending health benefits to non-citizens. California Rep. Maxine Waters responded to a reporter’s query about whether Democrats demand healthcare for illegal immigrants, asserting that health care should be accessible for everyone to save lives.

Looking ahead, Johnson estimated that American citizens might face reduced access to health services during the shutdown, which he suggested could lead to pressure on Democrats to resume government operations. “This is affecting real people in tangible ways. The question is how much are we willing to risk the health and safety of American citizens?” he remarked.