House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and House GOP leaders urged their fellow Republicans to stay united ahead of a likely government shutdown during a lawmaker-only phone call on Monday, Fox News Digital has learned.

‘Realistically, the way [Democrats have] painted themselves into a corner, I don’t think they’ll be willing to yield. There’s going to be some shutdown at least on October 1st, for a few days at least,’ Johnson said on the call, Fox News Digital was told. ‘I think that’s probably a good bet.’

House GOP leaders spent roughly an hour rallying their conference to stay on-message ahead of a possible government shutdown, which will occur if the Senate does not pass a short-term federal funding bill before midnight Wednesday. 

Johnson urged Republicans to ‘stay completely united,’ Fox News Digital was told, while arguing that Democrats have ‘no credible argument’ against rejecting the GOP spending bill.

He asked House Republicans to keep a low profile before they are due to return to Capitol Hill next week, including forgoing any House floor speeches and political events, Fox News Digital was told.

His comments on a shutdown being likely were in response to one House GOP lawmaker asking whether to pull out of a planned event this week.

Democrats and Republicans are at odds over how to avert a potential shutdown, with the former warning they will not vote for the latter’s bill without significant concessions on healthcare reform. 

Republicans, in turn, have pointed out that the funding levels are roughly the same as those Democrats supported under former President Joe Biden at the end of fiscal year (FY) 2024, and have accused Democrats of making unreasonable or partisan demands for a seven-week funding bill.

The measure, a stopgap bill keeping government spending levels mostly flat until Nov. 21, is aimed at giving the House and Senate more time to set funding priorities for FY 2026, which begins on Oct. 1.

It passed the House largely along party lines earlier this month. But in the Senate, where at least several Democrats are needed to meet a 60-vote threshold to advance the bill, its fate is more uncertain.

‘If you want to win the shutdown, we have to stay on offense,’ House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., said on the call. 

He emphasized that Republicans ‘did our job’ in passing the funding bill.

‘We need to keep emphasizing that. And if we do, we’re going to win this battle,’ Emmer said, Fox News Digital was told.

House GOP Conference Chair Lisa McClain, R-Mich., urged Republicans to keep the messaging focus on federal funding, rather than entering into a debate on healthcare, Fox News Digital was told.

Democrats are demanding legislation that reverses some of the Republicans’ Medicaid cuts in their ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill,’ and an extension of COVID-19 pandemic-era Obamacare subsidies.

Republicans, who have accused Democrats of trying to restore barriers on illegal immigrants getting Medicaid, have said the left’s demands would add about $1.5 trillion in spending.

It comes as the top four leaders in the House and Senate are expected to meet with President Donald Trump on Monday afternoon to discuss government funding in a last-ditch effort to avert a shutdown.

New York, NY – President Donald Trump released his new 20-point plan to end the Gaza war on Monday, when he also welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House. 

The Trump administration published a 20-point plan on Monday afternoon on how it will end the war in Gaza as the bloodshed continues raging since Oct. 7, 2023. The plan includes granting Hamas terrorists who give up their arms in favor of peace ‘amnesty,’ establishing Gaza as a ‘deradicalized terror-free zone’ and redeveloping the area so that it no longer poses a threat to its neighbors or residents alike. 

‘If both sides agree to this proposal, the war will immediately end. Israeli forces will withdraw to the agreed-upon line to prepare for a hostage release. During this time, all military operations, including aerial and artillery bombardment, will be suspended, and battle lines will remain frozen until conditions are met for the complete staged withdrawal,’ the third point of the document reads.

The plan explained that within 72 hours of Israel accepting the agreement, the country will release remaining hostages in its captivity — whether they are alive or deceased. Upon the release of the remaining hostages, Israel will then release ‘250 life sentence prisoners plus 1700 Gazans who were detained after October 7th 2023,’ according to the fifth point of the plan.

The plan adds that Hamas terrorists who are peaceful and give up their weapons will be granted ‘amnesty.’

‘Once all hostages are returned, Hamas members who commit to peaceful co-existence and to decommission their weapons will be given amnesty. Members of Hamas who wish to leave Gaza will be provided safe passage to receiving countries,’ the sixth point of the plan read. 

Hamas has not yet accepted the agreement, with Trump threatening the terrorist group to accept the plan or likely face further bloodshed. 

‘Israel would have my full backing to finish the job of destroying the threat of Hamas,’ Trump said on Monday during a press conference, warning Hamas to accept the deal. ‘But I hope that we’re going to have a deal for peace. And, if Hamas rejects the deal, which is always possible — they’re the only one left. Everyone else has accepted it. But, I have a feeling that we’re going to have a positive answer. But if not, as you know, maybe you’d have our full backing to do what you would have to do.’

A 21-point peace plan circulated at the United Nations earlier this month, as Israel launched long-range strikes deep inside Yemen, hitting targets more than 2,000 kilometers from home and underscoring how volatile the Middle East remains even as diplomacy played out in New York.

Trump unveiled the 21-point initiative to end the Gaza war during meetings with Arab leaders on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly earlier in September. 

A White House official, speaking on background, previously told Fox News Digital, ‘The President underscored his desire to bring fighting in Gaza to an expeditious close. Special envoy Witkoff summarized the U.S. plan for Gaza, including the return of all hostages living and deceased, no further attacks on Qatar, a new dialogue between Israel and Palestinians for peaceful coexistence and more.

‘Foreign partners expressed broad agreement that President Trump was the only one who could end the fighting in Gaza and expressed the hope that they could work together with Special Envoy Witkoff to consider the President’s plan as Americans continue to engage with Israeli officials,’ the White House official added. 

Arab officials told Fox News Digital that, during the meeting, leaders pressed Trump to confirm he would block Israeli annexation of the West Bank, describing the discussion as ‘productive.’

Speaking at the Concordia Annual Summit in New York, U.S. special envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff also described a ‘very productive’ meeting Tuesday between Trump and officials from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia and Pakistan.

‘We presented what we call the Trump 21-point plan for peace in the Middle East,’ Witkoff said. ‘I think it addresses Israeli concerns as well as concerns of neighbors in the region.’

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, speaking in a recorded UNGA address after being barred from entry to the U.S., also signaled support. 

‘We declare that we are ready to work with U.S. President Donald Trump and with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and France, the United Nations and all partners to implement the peace plan that was approved in the conference that was held on the 22nd of September, in a way that would lead towards a just peace and regional cooperation,’ Abbas said.

Abbas added that the PA is prepared to take over security and governance in Gaza, while Hamas must disarm. 

‘The dawn of freedom will emerge, and the flag of Palestine will fly high in our skies as a symbol of dignity, steadfastness and being free from the yoke of occupation,’ he said. ‘Palestine is ours. Jerusalem is the jewel of our hearts and our eternal capital. We will not leave our homeland. We will not leave our lands.’

Netanyahu, before departing for New York, where he was scheduled to address the UNGA Friday, said without directly commenting on the 21-point proposal, ‘In Washington, I will meet for the fourth time with President Trump, and I will discuss with him the great opportunities our victories have brought, as well as our need to complete the war’s objectives: to return all of our hostages, to defeat Hamas and to expand the circle of peace that has come our way following the historic victory.’

Even as Trump pushed diplomacy in New York, Israel expanded its campaign against Iran-backed militias. The IDF confirmed Thursday it carried out a wide wave of airstrikes against Houthi targets in Sana’a, Yemen, less than 24 hours after a Houthi drone slammed into a hotel in Eilat, wounding 24 people, two of them seriously.

Saudi and Israeli media reported more than 10 strikes during the Houthis’ weekly address, targeting command centers, intelligence headquarters and military compounds. Israeli officials estimate over 50 militants were killed. The IDF said the operation involved dozens of aircraft and long-range refueling, marking Israel’s 15th strike in Yemen since the war began.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said the raids, carried out under the code name Package Delivered, dealt a heavy blow. 

‘We struck numerous terror targets of the Houthi regime in Sana’a, eliminating dozens of operatives and destroying stockpiles of drones and weapons,’ Katz declared. ‘As I promised yesterday — those who harm us will be harmed sevenfold.’

Top Democrats are striking two very different notes on accountability: cheering President Donald Trump‘s felony conviction as proof that ‘no one is above the law,’ while blasting the recent indictment of former FBI Director James Comey as pure political payback.

In 2019, then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said during a discussion at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco that Democrats believe ‘no one is above the law,’ including the commander-in-chief. 

‘Everybody wants the president to be held accountable in the most serious way. And everybody believes, now I’m talking on the Democratic side, that no one is above the law, especially the President of the United States,’ Pelosi said.

Former President Joe Biden reiterated the ‘no one is above the law’ mantra before his White House remarks on the Middle East on May 31, 2024.

He said the New York case against Trump was ‘a state case, not a federal case,’ decided by ‘a jury of 12 citizens’ after five weeks of evidence and deliberation. 

The jury, Biden noted, ‘reached a unanimous verdict’ finding Trump guilty on 34 felony counts, while emphasizing that Trump has the right to appeal.

‘That’s how the American system of justice works,’ Biden said, calling it ‘reckless, dangerous, and irresponsible’ to claim the trial was rigged simply because of an unfavorable outcome.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., addressed Trump’s conviction in a June 3, 2024, floor speech saying that ‘former President Donald Trump is now a convicted felon.’

‘The most important takeaway from this case is that nobody’s above the law, including Donald Trump,’ he added.

On the heels of Comey’s indictment, Schumer said Sunday that he has ‘no faith in Trump’s judicial system.’

Schumer said on NBC News’ ‘Meet the Press’ that Trump ‘has turned this judicial system to be his own political fighter.’

‘He tells them to go after people he doesn’t like. He tells them to exonerate people that he likes,’ Schumer said.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., denounced what he called a ‘malicious prosecution,’ reminding reporters that Trump previously fired a prosecutor who refused to bring ‘frivolous charges.’

Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, issued an even sharper rebuke. 

‘This kind of interference is a dangerous abuse of power,’ he warned. ‘By ousting a respected, independent prosecutor and replacing him with a partisan loyalist, Trump is undermining one of the most important U.S. attorney’s offices in the country and eroding the rule of law itself.’

As Democrats leaned on the ‘no one is above the law’ refrain, Trump struck back — telling reporters Friday at the White House that the indictment against the former FBI chief was about rooting out corruption, not political payback.

‘It’s about justice really, it’s not revenge,’ Trump said. ‘It’s also about the fact that you can’t let this go on. They are sick, radical left people, and they can’t get away with it, and Comey was one of the people.’

‘He wasn’t the biggest, but he’s a dirty cop,’ Trump said, adding, ‘He’s always been a dirty cop. Everybody knew it.’

Trump’s comments came after Comey was indicted by a grand jury for allegedly lying to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding. He was indicted on two counts: alleged false statements within the jurisdiction of the legislative branch and obstruction of a congressional proceeding.

Comey’s arraignment is set for 10 a.m. on Oct. 9 before District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff. If convicted, Comey faces up to five years in prison.

Fox News Digital’s Michael Dorgan and Emma Bussey contributed to this report.

The partisan messaging war over a looming government shutdown is heating up with a new memo sent to House Republicans by Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.

In a memo titled, ‘Debunking the Democrats’ Shutdown Delusion,’ sent to House GOP offices on Monday, obtained by Fox News Digital, Johnson is urging fellow House Republicans to keep the heat on Democrats in the government funding fight by arguing against their most often-used points in the ongoing battle.

‘Republicans have acted responsibly by advancing a clean, nonpartisan 24-page continuing resolution that keeps funding at current levels through November 21 with no partisan policy riders. It averts a government shutdown and ensures essential services and benefits continue uninterrupted for the American people,’ the memo said.

‘Meanwhile, Democrats are doubling down on false narratives as the threat of a Democrat-led government shutdown looms. Democrats — who once claimed that shutdowns would be ‘dangerous,’ ‘disastrous,’ and ‘self-inflicted harm’ to seniors, veterans, servicemembers, families, and the economy — are now actively trying to force one over policies completely unrelated to government funding.’

The memo first quoted Democrats’ attack that Republicans are working to end healthcare for millions of Americans, urging GOP lawmakers to fight back with ‘the current funding bill is a simple short-term funding extension with no policy changes and healthcare programs are fully funded at the current levels.’

‘Democrats want to hold September government funding hostage over an unrelated December policy fight of their own making. Policy debates can happen separately, and Democrats don’t need to shut down the government to do it,’ the memo said.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and other Democrats are pushing for any government funding bill to include an extension of COVID-19 pandemic-era Obamacare subsidies that are set to expire at the end of 2025.

Democrats also released their own alternative funding bill that would have repealed Medicaid reforms in President Donald Trump’s big, beautiful bill – all points which Republicans have panned as nonstarters.

Republican leaders have signaled openness to discussing Obamacare extensions but have argued against including them in a seven-week short-term funding bill.

The memo also urges GOP lawmakers to criticize Democrats’ proposal, saying it gives ‘free healthcare for illegal aliens,’ ‘$500 million in taxpayer funding to prop up liberal news outlets,’ ‘a $50 billion cut in investments for improving rural health care,’ and ‘billions in funding for DEI and climate projects in foreign countries.’

On Democratic accusations that Republicans are using federal workers as ‘pawns’ in a government shutdown battle, the memo said, ‘If Democrats choose to force a shutdown, the Trump administration must be ready to responsibly manage the situation, including making tough personnel decisions to prioritize operations.’

‘But this disruption is entirely avoidable should Democrats support the responsible solution is on the table. If Democrats reject it, they alone will bear the blame for using federal workers as pawns in their political games,’ it said.

The memo also encouraged Republicans to point out that their short-term funding bill passed the House earlier this month with nearly entirely GOP votes, and that Democrats in the Senate were responsible for scuttling it earlier this month.

It comes after Johnson urged House Republicans on a conference call earlier to stay united on federal funding, arguing Democrats had ‘no credible argument’ in the fight.

Senate Republicans are expected to put the bill on the floor again sometime this week. If it fails to pass by midnight on Oct. 1, however, a partial government shutdown is all but certain.

President Donald Trump is flexing new leverage in the war in Ukraine — allowing the nation to use U.S. weapons to strike deep into Russia, weighing whether to provide Kyiv with Tomahawk cruise missiles and vowing Ukraine can take back all its land — while pressing China and India to slash purchases of Russian oil.

Ukraine supporters are cheering the shift, noting that after months of frustration over the grinding conflict, Trump appears to be changing tactics. From a combative February meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to his declaration last week that Ukraine could reclaim all of its original territory, the president is signaling a harder line on Moscow.

On ‘Fox News Sunday,’ Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg revealed that Trump had authorized long-range Ukrainian strikes inside Russia. Vice President JD Vance added that the administration is weighing whether to send Tomahawk missiles, a capability the Biden White House had denied. The weapons would be funded by European partners.

‘We’re certainly looking at a number of requests from the Europeans,’ Vance said. ‘It’s something the president’s going to make the final determination on.’

The U.S.-made Tomahawk has a range of about 1,500 miles, meaning Kyiv could theoretically target Moscow if Trump approves the transfer. Russia quickly issued warnings, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov questioning whether Ukrainians could operate such systems without American assistance.

‘Who can launch these missiles, even if they end up on the territory of the Kyiv regime?’ Peskov asked. ‘Can they be launched only by Ukrainians, or must it still be done by American personnel? Who provides the targeting? A very deep analysis is needed here.’

He dismissed the weapons as strategically meaningless. ‘There is no panacea that can change the situation on the fronts. There are no magic weapons, whether Tomahawk or others, that can alter the dynamics,’ Peskov said.

Still, Trump’s stance marks one of his most striking reversals. Last week, he suggested Ukraine could not only hold its ground but also return to its original borders, calling that ‘very much an option,’ while urging NATO nations to shoot down Russian drones and jets that cross into their airspace.

He added that Russia has been ‘fighting aimlessly for three and a half years in a war that should have taken a Real Military Power less than a week to win. This is not distinguishing Russia.’

This month, Russian drones entered Polish and Romanian territory. Missile-carrying MiG-29 jets crossed into Estonian territory.

Eastern European officials say Moscow’s provocations are meant to test NATO unity. ‘Part of these provocations are to see: will there be solidarity? Will there be a clear decision within NATO to increase defense?’ Romanian foreign minister Oana Țoiu told Fox News.

The tougher tone follows Trump’s August summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska, which produced few breakthroughs. Since then, Trump has ratcheted up pressure, urging Europe to accelerate its energy break with Moscow and coordinating a new sanctions package with U.S. allies.

‘Inexcusably, even NATO countries have not cut off much Russian energy and Russian energy products,’ Trump told the United Nations General Assembly. ‘China and India are the primary funders of the ongoing war by continuing to purchase Russian oil.’

The president has already imposed a 50% tariff on Indian goods, citing New Delhi’s reliance on Russian fuel. Officials suggest additional measures are under consideration if India and China do not curb their energy ties with Moscow.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologized to Qatar for striking its territory during a meeting with President Donald Trump, the White House said Monday.

Israel’s military targeted senior Hamas leadership in Qatar with an airstrike earlier this month that also killed a Qatari security official.

Trump distanced himself from Netanyahu’s decision to strike a top ally in the Middle East, writing on Truth Social at the time it ‘does not advance Israel or America’s goals.’

Qatar has been a key host of discussions aimed at hashing out a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. It also hosts about10,000 U.S. troops. 

During a trilateral call with Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Netanyahu expressed ‘deep regret that Israel’s missile strike against Hamas targets in Qatar unintentionally killed a Qatari serviceman,’ according to a White House readout.

‘He further expressed regret that, in targeting Hamas leadership during hostage negotiations, Israel violated Qatari sovereignty and affirmed that Israel will not conduct such an attack again in the future.’

Al Thani welcomed the assurances, according to the readout, and Trump ‘expressed his desire to put Israeli-Qatar relations on a positive track after years of mutual grievances and miscommunications.’

‘They really had a heart-to-heart conversation,’ Trump said in a news conference after his meeting with Netanyahu. ‘It was a great conversation, and I thought it was productive.’

He said that the U.S., Israel and Qatar agreed to launch a formal trilateral mechanism to begin dialogue ‘to enhance mutual security, correct misperceptions, and avoid future misgivings.’

Trump praised the emir as a ‘fantastic person’ and noted his role as a mediator in the peace process. He added that he hoped Qatar could join the Abraham Accords, a series of normalization deals between Middle Eastern nations and Israel that Trump brokered during his first administration.

It came as Trump unveiled a 20-point peace plan to end the war in Gaza.

The plan includes granting Hamas terrorists who give up their arms in favor of peace ‘amnesty,’ establishing Gaza as a ‘deradicalized terror-free zone’ and Israel pulling back from the territory and ceasing military operations.

The plan explained that within 72 hours of Israel accepting the agreement, Hamas will release remaining hostages in its captivity — whether they are alive or deceased.

Upon the release of the remaining hostages, Israel will then release ‘250 life-sentence prisoners plus 1,700 Gazans who were detained after Oct. 7, 2023,’ according to the fifth point of the plan.

‘Once all hostages are returned, Hamas members who commit to peaceful co-existence and to decommission their weapons will be given amnesty. Members of Hamas who wish to leave Gaza will be provided safe passage to receiving countries,’ the sixth point of the plan read.

Gaza will not be controlled by Hamas or the Palestinian Authority, but by ‘those committed to peace,’ according to Netanyahu.

Hamas has not yet accepted the agreement, with Trump threatening the terrorist group to accept the plan or likely face further bloodshed.

‘Israel would have my full backing to finish the job of destroying the threat of Hamas,’ Trump said Monday during a press conference, warning Hamas to accept the deal.