Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer faced criticism from former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday for his recent vote alongside Republicans to avert a government shutdown. During a press conference in San Francisco, Pelosi expressed her confidence in Schumer’s ability to lead the Senate’s Democratic caucus but argued that he had made too many concessions to Republicans when he unexpectedly announced his support for the GOP-crafted government funding bill.
“I myself don’t give away anything for nothing,” Pelosi remarked, suggesting that Schumer’s decision was a misstep. She believed that Democrats could have potentially negotiated a better deal, hinting at a plan to extend current government spending for an additional 30 days while discussions for a more comprehensive bill took place. “They may not have agreed to it, but at least the public would have seen them not agreeing to it — then [Republicans] would have been shutting the government down,” she contended.
In the lead-up to the vote, Pelosi urged Senate Democrats to defy Schumer and reject the six-month spending bill. She criticized the narrative presented by figures like Donald Trump and Elon Musk, who she claimed offered Congress a false choice between a government shutdown and a “blank check” that would harm working families across America. “This false choice that some are buying instead of fighting is unacceptable,” she stated.
Despite her frustrations, Pelosi indicated that she was ready to move on from the shutdown debate, focusing on future challenges. “What happened last week was last week. We’re going into the future,” she said.
Schumer’s decision to support the Trump-backed funding measure annoyed some Democrats, especially as the country faced the threat of a partial government shutdown. Prior to the vote, Schumer acknowledged the bill’s shortcomings but emphasized the dire consequences of a shutdown, stating, “the potential for a shutdown has consequences for America that are much, much worse.”
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Pelosi’s critique came after House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries declined to comment on Schumer’s leadership position in the Senate. Former Obama administration official Van Jones expressed on CNN that he had never witnessed such intense frustration directed at a fellow Democrat. He noted that Democrats are looking for a leader who can effectively stand up to Republican pressures, likening the current situation to past confrontations between President Obama and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Jones remarked, “We have a Senate majority leader who is beloved in this party, but we want somebody who’s gonna stand up to this bully. Stand up to this bully. Do something.” He emphasized the emotional need within the party to resist figures like Trump and Musk, suggesting that Schumer had misjudged the sentiments of his colleagues.
Additionally, New York Democrat Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also expressed her frustration with Schumer during an interview with CNN host Jake Tapper, further highlighting the discontent among some members of the Democratic Party regarding Schumer’s recent actions.
