House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Wednesday that a group of Democratic lawmakers entered his office suite during the ongoing federal government shutdown and confronted a Capitol Police officer posted outside, an incident he described at a Capitol press conference as part of a pattern of “political stunts and antics.”

“Last night, they played some games. They stormed my office. Maybe you saw some of the video online that they themselves shared, or someone did,” Johnson said.

“They berated a Capitol police officer, screamed at him. He was just merely standing his post.”

The activity near the Speaker’s office occurred as the shutdown moved into its third week and as disputes over a continuing resolution remained unresolved.

Johnson said the episode unfolded while he was away from the office to attend a White House ceremony where President Donald Trump posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.

Democratic members have pressed for the seating of Congresswoman-elect Adelita Grijalva of Arizona, whose certification was completed this week.

Johnson’s critics argue that House action to administer the oath could proceed immediately.

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Republican leaders have tied the matter to the broader standoff over government funding, contending that the Senate should advance the House-backed proposal to reopen agencies before unrelated business moves forward.

According to video posted online by participants and bystanders, Democratic lawmakers gathered outside Johnson’s office suite on Tuesday evening and recorded the demonstration on their phones. At least one sign posted at the entrance to the suite was removed during the confrontation.

Zoomed In: Rep. Nanette Barragan (D-CA) gets in the face of a Capitol Police officer— currently going without a paycheck because of the shutdown— while trying to barge into Speaker Johnson’s office pic.twitter.com/MWnWxfpdbD

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) October 15, 2025

Johnson referenced those clips in his remarks and said he viewed the conduct as crossing a line.

“It shows, again, their disdain for law enforcement, as we see all around the country, the Democrats and everyone in that party, screaming, assaulting ICE officers. They did it right here in the Capitol last night,” he said.

The exchange came amid heightened tensions over efforts to end the lapse in federal appropriations.

The Senate has repeatedly failed to advance competing measures, and both chambers have traded blame as federal workers, contractors, and service providers confront disrupted operations.

Republicans have urged passage of what they describe as a “clean” continuing resolution originating in the House, while Democrats have criticized GOP proposals as insufficient or mismatched with previously negotiated toplines.

Johnson said Democrats have focused on “all sorts of political stunts and antics,” including removing signage from his office suite, instead of engaging on the specifics of the House bill.

“They’ve been doing that every day now, and it shows their desperation,” he said.

“It also shows a very strong contrast between the party that is working for the people and trying to keep the government open and do the right thing, and the party that is engaged in all this nonsense.”

🚨 BREAKING: Speaker Johnson GOES OFF on Democrats for “storming” his office last night, and berating a Capitol officer while shutting the government down

“They STORMED my office…they BERATED a Capitol police officer, screamed at him!”

“A few members of Congress went into the… pic.twitter.com/eaVxLcTqQP

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) October 15, 2025

U.S. Capitol Police did not immediately provide a detailed account of the incident outside the Speaker’s office.

There were no public reports of arrests or injuries connected to the encounter as of Wednesday afternoon.

The House Sergeant at Arms likewise did not announce restrictions on public access to the Speaker’s corridor beyond the standard security posture in effect during the shutdown period.

The timing of the confrontation coincided with a sequence of events drawing national attention.

At the White House on Tuesday, President Trump presented the Medal of Freedom posthumously to Kirk during a Rose Garden ceremony attended by family members and senior officials.

Johnson and other congressional leaders participated in the event before returning to the Capitol for additional negotiations over funding legislation.

Arizona officials, including the state’s attorney general, have called for swift action to seat Grijalva following certification of the special election results.

House leaders have not announced a floor schedule for administering the oath.

If sworn in, Grijalva would succeed her father, longtime Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), and represent a southern Arizona district.

As the shutdown stretches into another week, House and Senate leaders say they remain in contact about possible pathways to reopen the government.

The House majority maintains that the chamber is prepared to move quickly once the Senate advances a vehicle acceptable to both parties, while Democrats insist the House should first take up a plan that can also clear the Senate.

Johnson reiterated that his focus is on ending the funding lapse and returning federal agencies to normal operations.

He also defended the Capitol Police presence outside leadership offices and called for members to maintain decorum during protests and media events on the Hill.

“We’ve always stood with law enforcement here,” he said, pointing back to the officer posted outside his doorway.

“He was just doing his job standing at his post.”