President Donald Trump sharply criticized Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Wednesday, accusing him of “extortion” for stalling the confirmation of Trump’s nominees in the Senate.
Posting on Truth Social, Trump argued that never in U.S. history have so many presidential nominees been held up for so long. Efforts by Senate Republicans to strike a deal with Schumer to speed up confirmations broke down earlier this week.
“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,” Trump wrote.
“This has never happened before. 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. Move quickly!” he added.
Lawmakers left Washington on Monday without reaching an agreement, leaving Republicans increasingly frustrated over what they call an unprecedented blockade by Senate Democrats. So far, only Secretary of State Marco Rubio has received swift confirmation.
Schumer and Senate Democrats have pushed for billions in funding for the National Institutes of Health and foreign aid in exchange for allowing votes on nominees — a demand Trump labeled as a $2 billion “extortion.”
Republicans are now weighing a potential rule change to prevent Democrats from filibustering nominees, which would allow confirmations with a simple majority.
“I think that way is going to happen anyways, because of what Schumer has done. He’s forced this, and it’s ridiculous that he’s doing this,” Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., said Tuesday. “Every action requires an equal reaction, and that’s where we’re at right now.”
Currently, more than 1,200 positions require Senate confirmation. Republicans have confirmed over 130 of Trump’s nominees so far, but more than 140 remain pending.
“I think they’re desperately in need of change,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters Tuesday. “The last six months have shown this nominations process is broken. I expect some robust conversations about fixing it.”
