Republicans and Democrats are now both blasting Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) over a plan by the Democratic leader to keep the government shut down at least until a left-wing rally scheduled for Oct. 18 in Washington, D.C., is held.

Two of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet secretaries indicated that Democrats are keeping the government closed so that “No Kings” mass rallies can happen on Saturday, October 18.

The comments are similar to what House Republicans have said, blaming Democrats for the closure that has been going on for two weeks. They believe Democrats wanted to keep the government closed until after the protests so they could show party activists that they are fighting back against the Trump administration.

In criticizing the rallies, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said: “’No Kings’ means no paychecks, no paychecks and no government.”