Schumer Melts Down at Trump as Democrats Face Backlash Over Shutdown
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) lashed out at former President Donald Trump in a fiery video posted to social media on Wednesday, as public opinion begins to shift against Democrats amid the ongoing government shutdown.
“Donald Trump is a vindictive and heartless man,” Schumer said. “Never before in American history has a president cut off SNAP during a shutdown, including Trump in his first term. But now he is manufacturing a hunger crisis to bludgeon the American people so he doesn’t have to fix healthcare.”
Schumer’s remarks came as polls and media coverage show growing frustration with Democrats for refusing to support measures that would reopen the government.
Democrats Block GOP Spending Bill
While the Republican-controlled House passed a clean spending bill nearly a month ago, Schumer has directed Senate Democrats to oppose it.
Despite a handful of Democrats breaking ranks, the bill still lacks the 60 votes needed to advance through the Senate and reach the president’s desk.
Under the Constitution, the president cannot spend funds without congressional approval. Spending bills must originate in Congress, meaning lawmakers — not the White House — have the power to end the shutdown.
Republicans have accused Schumer of holding the process hostage for political leverage over healthcare spending.
Obamacare Subsidies at the Center of Dispute
At the heart of the impasse are Obamacare subsidies that Democrats first enacted in 2010 without a single Republican vote.
Those subsidies were temporarily expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic, but are now set to expire in December. Democrats are demanding new extensions and additional spending — nearly $1.5 trillion — as part of any deal to reopen the government.
Donald Trump is a vindictive and heartless man
Never before in American history has a president cut off SNAP during a shutdown, including Trump in his first term.
But now he is manufacturing a hunger crisis to bludgeon the American people so he doesn’t have to fix healthcare. pic.twitter.com/TjH6pPZbo2
Republicans say they are open to negotiating healthcare funding but only after Congress passes a clean continuing resolution (CR) to restore government operations.
“We’re not going to fund trillions in new spending just to reopen the government,” one GOP aide said. “Democrats need to stop using federal workers and families as leverage.”
WOW. When even CNBC is BLASTING Democrat Senators over their government shutdown, you know it's bad:
CNBC: "Are you ready to vote with the Republicans to reopen the government at this point, as a reasonable Democrat?"
The political tide appears to be turning against Schumer and his party. Even traditionally sympathetic media outlets are now acknowledging that Democrats are taking more of the blame for the shutdown.
CNN reported this week that the stalemate has benefited Republicans politically, while ABC News went further, directly blaming Democrats for “causing the impasse.”
CNBC hosts also challenged Democratic senators on-air, urging them to support reopening the government.
During a heated exchange, CNBC co-host Joe Kernen pressed Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT) to justify keeping the government closed.
“Are you ready to vote with Republicans to reopen the government at this point?” Kernen asked. Welch replied, “I’m not there yet. We’ve had no discussion whatsoever about how to deal with spikes in premiums.” Kernen shot back, “This is extortion! You think it’s right that people at TSA aren’t getting paychecks?”
Polls Show GOP Gaining Momentum
Data analysts are also noting a shift in voter sentiment.
CNN’s data chief Harry Enten said this week that Republicans’ approval ratings have risen since the start of the shutdown, while Democrats’ have slipped.
“You might think that given Republicans control both chambers of Congress, a shutdown would hurt their brand,” Enten said. “But, in fact, it hasn’t. The Republican brand in Congress has actually improved compared to before the shutdown.”
According to a Quinnipiac poll released on October 22, Republicans’ net favorability in Congress improved by five points since July.
“That’s the math that John Thune and Mike Johnson are looking at,” Enten explained. “Why should Republicans give in electorally when their brand has actually improved?”
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