Trump Critiques Schumer Amid Government Shutdown

WASHINGTON – On Thursday, President Donald Trump directed his criticism towards Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., after Schumer admitted that the Democratic-led shutdown, which is impacting federal employees and U.S. soldiers, was indeed partisan.

During a Cabinet meeting held at the White House, Trump explicitly mentioned Schumer’s name.

“Chuck Schumer declared this morning that ‘every day is getting better for them.’ No, it’s actually getting worse for them every day,” Trump said, referencing Schumer’s unusual claim to Punchbowl News. He added, “And they’re inciting an insurrection within the Democratic Party because they want to stop that.”

Trump pointed out that Schumer has often criticized government shutdowns over the years, yet Schumer and Senate Democrats have consistently turned down the proposal to fund the government through an unconditional continuing resolution at the same budget levels that former President Joe Biden authorized last year.

Regarding Schumer’s comments on the shutdown, Trump stated, “So this is an admission that he’s acting in the interests of his party, not to serve the people.” He commented further, “And I don’t think he’s serving them well, because they’re much more depressed. You know, they just lost the election in a landslide.”

Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) are the Democratic leaders, but Trump argued that their desperation is evident during the shutdown. He suggested that the party is lacking clear leadership needed to have serious discussions about reopening the government. In his view, many ordinary Democrats are actually keen on funding the government.

“So Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries and Congressional Democrats are holding the entire federal government hostage. I’m telling you, a lot of Democrats want to take this public as well, they do that too. They’re calling us and… they just want it public,” he said.

He continued, “And all we do is say, ‘We’ll pay you the same amount until the problem is fixed.’ And they don’t know how to fix it. So… and the problem is, we don’t really know who the hell is leading the Democratic Party,” he added.

Trump asserted that Schumer is catering to the far-left faction of the party, particularly in light of a possible primary challenge from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).

“But AOC says Republicans can come to her office and negotiate,” Trump remarked. “And we’re saying, ‘Oh, I didn’t know she was in leadership,’ but she replaced Hakeem Jeffries, and Schumer fears she’s going to run against him.”

“Right now…I don’t think he can beat anyone,” Trump stated. “I mean, he’s going to … lose the primary. I think he’ll retire before he loses the primary. Schumer will retire because he can’t beat anyone. His poll numbers are very bad.”

Trump emphasized that the ongoing Democratic-led shutdown is adversely affecting “hardworking Americans, including military members, air traffic controllers, poor mothers, people with young children,” and “people who should be living their best lives.”