Three members of Congress decided to gang up and launch an attack on Speaker of the House Mike Johnson.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer teamed up with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnel as well as the House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to send a big message to Johnson.

Avoid a government shutdown at all costs.

The three met with Johnson to deliver their arguments and emerged from that meeting in good spirits.

Schumer released a statement regarding the meeting.

“It was a productive and intense meeting. We made it so clear that we can’t have the shutdown because it hurts so many people in so many different ways,” Schumer said.

Hakeem Jeffries has also said he is “cautiously optimistic” about the next steps.

However, it is obvious that a big part of the reason they emerged from the meeting so optimistic is because they forced Johnson’s hand.

A Republican senator who has chosen to remain anonymous was reported by The Hill as saying “When you can demonstrate it’s kind of three against one, you can kind of pressure or influence someone and I hope that’s what he senses.”

The anonymous senator did not stop there.

“This is a bipartisan effort to ensure that we’re doing the right thing and keeping the government open, and it’s okay for him to have a bipartisan vote” to pass funding legislation to avoid a shutdown,” the unnamed senator continued.

Now, Johnson has also released a statement surrounding the government shutdown.

“We have been working in good faith around the clock every single day for months and weeks, and over the last several days, quite literally around the clock to get that job done. We’re very optimistic. We believe that we can get to agreement on these issues and prevent a government shutdown, that’s our first responsibility,” Johnson said.

No matter how you feel about a potential government shut down, it is never okay to force someone into doing what you want.

Do you think Johnson was manipulated by the three members of Congress during their recent meeting?

Let us know in the comments below.