President Donald Trump accused Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of "extortion" after Democrats held out on hundreds of Senate confirmations over $2 billion in funding, Newsmax reported. The Senate broke for summer recess without confirming the executive appointments after a deal couldn't be reached.
More than 140 of Trump's picks are awaiting confirmation as Schumer maneuvers to delay or block them until he gets his way. Among the nominees are 30 ambassadors, including Kimberly Guilfoyle as ambassador to Greece, and Mike Walz as United Nations ambassador.
Many of them have already been approved with bipartisan support in their respective committees. However, Schumer has set into motion a procedural requirement for the Senate to agree on voting rules for candidates as Democrats ask for their pet causes to be funded, including $1 billion for the Global Fund and $50 million to fight HIV in developing countries.
This process would have forced Senate Majority Leader John Thune to keep the Senate in session and lawmakers in Washington, D.C., through the rest of the summer to get each one through. Instead, Schumer held out to secure billions in wasteful spending, and both sides walked away from the table for now.
Trump was not about to take this lying down, of course. The president struck back at Schumer and the Democratic Party on a post to Truth Social on Wednesday, calling them "extortionists" and "thugs" over the scheme to delay the confirmations.
"Politically embattled Senator, Cryin’ Chuck Schumer, wants the Republicans to pay, as EXTORTION, TWO BILLION DOLLARS in order for the Radical Left Democrats to approve the hundreds of Trump Appointments who have been waiting for months, and are raring to go. This has never happened before," Trump wrote.
"There has never, in U.S. history, been such a delay. THEY ARE EXTORTIONISTS! Republicans must create legislation in order to get out of the grasp of these Country hating THUGS," Trump continued.
"Move quickly!!! MAGA." Trump concluded. The president urged the lawmakers to come to a decision to get the nominees through. Unfortunately, Trump ended the standoff in a draw as both sides backed off. Perhaps this means Schumer learned after taking several lashes from his party earlier this year for giving in to Trump.
In March, Schumer backed away from blocking a GOP-led funding bill because he wanted to avoid a government shutdown, NBC News reported. Many in his party were outraged that he'd give an inch to Trump, and perhaps he's worried about the same thing happening this time.
Even former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was outraged and urged fellow Democrats in the Senate to vote against the bill that would fund the government for another six months. Instead, Pelosi wanted a continuing resolution, which does the same for a shorter term to keep the government operating but forces more legislation. "Democratic senators should listen to the women," Pelosi said in a statement at the time.
"Appropriations leaders Rosa DeLauro and Patty Murray have eloquently presented the case that we must have a better choice: a four-week funding extension to keep [the] government open and negotiate a bipartisan agreement. America has experienced a Trump shutdown before — but this damaging legislation only makes matters worse," the California Democrat added.
Schumer also drew the ire of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). "I think there is a deep sense of outrage and betrayal. And this is not just about progressive Democrats. This is across the board. The entire party," Cortez said. It seems that being on the wrong side of his party is not where Schumer wants to be again.
Trump is correct that the Democrats in the Senate were wielding their power to obtain funding for their causes in a way that seems underhanded. However, they will have to continue the fight after the recess, and Trump has a way of getting what he wants in the end.
