Fox News political analyst Juan Williams on Wednesday said that Fox News host Sean Hannity, radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh and conservative commentator Ann Coulter were essentially running the U.S. government.

"I'll tell you what you should do. You should go listen to Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter, because they’re running this government," Williams, who is a columnist for The Hill, said in an exchange with GOP strategist Karl Rove in an appearance on "The Story" on Fox News.

The comment came as the two pundits got in a heated argument over the partial government shutdown, as well as President Trump Donald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE's demand that any spending bill includes more than $5 billion for a wall along the southern border. Democrats have repeatedly opposed the demand, offering $1.3 billion for border security measures.

Williams, who also serves as a co-host of Fox News's "The Five," asserted that Trump's proposed wall would be "ineffective" and "inefficient."

Rove took issue with that assessment, saying that when barriers were constructed by former presidents George H.W. Bush and Clinton "in San Diego, illegal border crossings dropped by 95 percent."

ADVERTISEMENT

He added that "everywhere where we’ve put a wall in a major urban area" has had to a similar outcome.

But Williams shot back that talking about a wall from "sea to shining sea" is "ridiculous," before adding that Hannity, Limbaugh and Coulter are running the government.

The focus on the commentators comes as Coulter in December said Trump's presidency would be a "joke" if he signed legislation that didn't include funding for a wall. She repeated the sentiment in a new interview published on Wednesday, saying that Trump's presidency would be "dead in the water" if he caves on the wall.

Limbaugh, a vocal proponent of the wall, also said in December that Trump gave word to him that he would veto any government funding bill that doesn't include money for his proposed border wall.

The impasse between Democrats and Republicans over the issue has led to a government shutdown now into its 27th day, making it the longest in U.S. history.

Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) on Tuesday called for Coulter to tell President Trump that "it's OK" to fully reopen the federal government.