Republican Can’t Fly, Doing What Instead?
WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the nation continues to feel the impact of the Democrat-led government shutdown, one Republican congressman is proving just how far he’s willing to go to get back to work for the American people.
Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) is traveling 951.8 miles on his Harley-Davidson, riding through freezing temperatures and dangerous conditions, all to reach Washington in time to vote on the spending bill to reopen the federal government.
Van Orden said he simply isn’t willing to gamble with the massive travel disruptions caused by the shutdown.
“The Democrats shut down the government and sparked chaos across the country for political purposes — and gained absolutely nothing except the contempt of millions,” Van Orden told The Hill.
To underscore his determination, Van Orden posted a video on X, revving up his Harley before beginning his long ride. He captioned it: “Guess who’s driving 951.8 miles from Wisconsin to DC on a Harley-Davidson.”
Shutdown Travel Nightmare: Flight Issues Hit Lawmakers Too
While Van Orden braved the winter roads, several members of Congress attempted to fly back to Washington — and quickly ran into the same problems everyday Americans are facing during the shutdown.
Rep. Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.) revealed that he, along with Arizona Republicans Eli Crane, Andy Biggs, and Paul Gosar, were on a commercial flight that was forced to make an emergency landing in Kansas City due to a disruptive passenger.
Stanton posted on X, assuring followers none of his congressional colleagues caused the disruption. He even took a swipe at the GOP lawmakers on board, joking:
“Freedom Caucus losing its mojo.”
He later thanked Kansas City police for handling the situation professionally, sharing a photo of an officer on the plane.
A Shutdown With Real Consequences
The ongoing shutdown has already resulted in:
- Nationwide flight delays
- Disrupted federal services
- Millions of Americans caught in uncertainty
- Lawmakers scrambling to reach Washington
With Democrats refusing to negotiate meaningful reforms, Republicans like Van Orden are doing whatever it takes — even riding cross-country on a Harley in the freezing cold — to show up and fight to get the government back open.
Bottom Line
Rep. Derrick Van Orden’s nearly 1,000-mile motorcycle ride has become a powerful symbol of determination and leadership at a time when Washington is consumed by political gridlock. While Democrats continue to play shutdown politics, Republicans are pushing to restore order and reopen the government.
