President Donald Trump on Tuesday accused Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Senate Democrats of “holding the entire federal government hostage” during the ongoing government shutdown, saying Republicans would not bow to “extortion” over spending demands.
Speaking during a lunch event in the White House Rose Garden, Trump blasted Schumer and his caucus for refusing to advance a short-term funding measure known as a continuing resolution (CR) that would reopen the government.
“Chuck Schumer and the Senate Democrats need to vote for the clean, bipartisan CR and reopen our government. It’s got to be reopened right now,” Trump said. “They are the obstructionists. And the reason they’re doing it is because we’re doing so well. We’re doing well all over the world.”
The shutdown, now in its 21st day, began after Democrats rejected a temporary funding measure over disputes involving immigration enforcement, border operations, and reductions to climate and housing programs. Federal agencies have begun scaling back services as the standoff drags on, with hundreds of thousands of federal workers furloughed or working without pay.
Trump placed direct blame on Schumer for the stalemate, referring to it as “the Schumer shutdown.” “You can call it the Schumer shutdown or the Democrats’ shutdown — call it whatever you want,” Trump said. “We will not be extorted on this crazy plot of theirs.”
The president also mocked Schumer’s standing within his party, saying the Democratic leader was “in deep trouble” and “losing in all of the polls.” “He’s even losing to AOC, plus three,” Trump said, referencing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and her progressive allies in Congress.
