Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D–NY) is facing widespread criticism after admitting that the ongoing federal government shutdown is politically advantageous for Democrats — a remark that has drawn condemnation from both Republicans and the White House.
According to Punchbowl News, Schumer told fellow Democrats during a closed-door meeting that the standoff, now in its second week, is working in their favor.
“Every day gets better for us,” Schumer said, referencing the Democrats’ strategic focus on healthcare ahead of the September 30 deadline. “We knew health care would be the focal point… Their whole theory was — threaten us, bamboozle us, and we would submit in a day or two.”
The comment, perceived by critics as callous, quickly sparked backlash. Hours later, tensions escalated on the Senate floor when Schumer accused House Speaker Mike Johnson (R–LA) of endangering lives by refusing to meet Democratic demands to end the shutdown.
“Hear that, Mr. Speaker?” Schumer shouted. “Good Americans in your own state… will die. All because the Speaker chose to keep the House on vacation rather than negotiate with Democrats and end their Trump shutdown. Shameful.”
Republicans swiftly condemned Schumer’s remarks as inflammatory and out of touch, accusing him of exploiting the shutdown for political gain while millions of Americans suffer.
The White House, led by President Donald Trump, also weighed in. Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson called the comments “disgusting and revealing.”
“Chuck Schumer just said the quiet part out loud: Democrats are gleefully inflicting pain on the American people over their push to give illegal aliens free health care,” Jackson said. “Workers are missing paychecks. Military families are turning to food pantries. But to Chuck Schumer, this is somehow ‘getting better every day.’”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed those concerns in a post on X, writing:
“While federal workers stress over missed paychecks, and airports face chaos, Chuck Schumer and the Democrats are bragging that ‘every day gets better’ for them. What a disgusting and revealing statement.”
The shutdown, now in its tenth day, has forced hundreds of thousands of federal employees to go without pay, disrupted government services, and caused delays at airports nationwide. Economists estimate the cost to the U.S. economy at up to $2 billion per week in lost productivity and halted contracts.
During a Cabinet meeting Thursday, President Trump accused Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D–NY) of “holding the government hostage.”
“They want free healthcare for illegal immigrants, and Chuck’s terrified AOC is going to run against him,” Trump said. “They’re putting politics before the American people.”
Trump also predicted Schumer may retire soon, citing his slipping poll numbers and increasing pressure from the party’s far-left flank.
That internal pressure is mounting. In New York City, Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani has taken an early lead in the mayoral race, while speculation continues that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D–NY) could challenge Schumer in the 2026 Senate primary, though no campaign has been announced.
With both sides entrenched, negotiations to end the shutdown remain stalled. Congressional leaders are expected to reconvene Friday, but little progress is expected as partisan tensions continue to rise — and both parties blame each other for the ongoing crisis.
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