Schumer: Trump is 'plunging the country into chaos'
If the government shuts down, it will be due to President Trump "throwing a tantrum," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Thursday evening.
During a press conference with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Schumer said Trump has backed away from the bipartisan spending bill that passed the Senate on Wednesday night because of pressure from the hard right. The bill did not include any funding for the border wall Trump has long promised. "The Trump temper tantrum will shut down the government but it will not get him his wall," Schumer said. The president, he added, is "plunging the country into chaos."
Pelosi said she was "shaken" by the resignation of Secretary of Defense James Mattis, one day after Trump said the Islamic State is defeated and U.S. troops should leave Syria, and praised his service. "You have leaders who have left the administration in dismay and the rest of them have left in disgrace," she said. "That's what this administration has been about."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Mattis is "one of the few symbols of strength and stability in this administration," Schumer said. "Everything that indicates stability, everything that indicates strength, everything that indicates knowledge is leaving this administration." They don't want to be fear-mongers, Pelosi added, since this "great country can withstand just about anything, but it shouldn't have to."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
How the UK's electric car plans took a wrong turn
The Explainer Car manufacturers are struggling to meet 'stringent' targets for electric-vehicle sales
By Abby Wilson Published
-
Irish election: what's at stake?
Today's Big Question Weakened centrist coalition of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil parties may have to share power with conservative independents
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Best UK literary festivals of 2025
The Week Recommends From Hay and Cheltenham to Henley and Oxford, here are some of the year's top events for book lovers
By Tess Foley-Cox Published
-
Israel and Hezbollah agree to ceasefire
Speed Read Both sides accepted an agreement brokered by the United States and France
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Khan supporters converge on Islamabad
Speed Read Protesters clashing with Pakistani authorities are demanding the release of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Prosecutor drops federal cases against Trump
Speed Read Special counsel Jack Smith requested to drop the charges against President-elect Donald Trump for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump completes Cabinet selections
Speed Read The president-elect's latest picks include Scott Bessent and Lori Chavez-DeRemer
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Global court issues arrest warrant for Netanyahu
Speed Read The International Criminal Court issued warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who stand accused of war crimes
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Gaetz bows out, Trump pivots to Pam Bondi
Speed Read Gaetz withdrew from attorney generation consideration, making way for longtime Trump loyalist Pam Bondi
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
GOP's Mace seeks federal anti-trans bathroom ban
Speed Read Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina has introduced legislation to ban transgender people from using federal facilities
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Ukraine fires ATACMS, Russia ups hybrid war
Speed Read Ukraine shot U.S.-provided long-range missiles and Russia threatened retaliation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published