Trump admonishes Schumer, urging him to head towards the inferno, as discord intensifies over Senate nominee funds agreement.
In a surprising turn of events, President Trump's social media post has led to the collapse of Senate negotiations for dozens of nominee confirmations. The President's outburst, which accused Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of political extortion and used hostile language, effectively ended the bipartisan talks that had been ongoing for an extended period.
The negotiations, which were a product of marathon talks between Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Schumer, and the White House, aimed to finalize a package that would greenlight Trump's nominees in exchange for Democrats' demands on National Institutes of Health (NIH) and foreign aid funding.
The proposed agreement involved Democrats seeking to lift freezes on NIH and foreign aid funding and assurances against clawbacks on previously approved funding. However, Trump's social media posts harshly criticized Schumer's demands related to funding and commitments on future appropriations, which he called "egregious and unprecedented."
Senate Minority Leader Schumer responded sharply on the Senate floor, blaming Trump for withdrawing from a deal that had bipartisan momentum and accusing him of abandoning the negotiation in a "fit of rage."
The Senate adjourned in chaos after voting on only seven of the more than 60 nominees in limbo. Sen. Markwayne Mullin stated that there were three separate deals since the previous night, each time with Schumer requesting more. Mullin also mentioned that Trump's dramatic post didn't catch the GOP off guard, as the White House had been heavily involved in the negotiations from the start.
Thune, speaking on the Senate floor, declared the negotiations dead and blamed the president directly for the collapse. Democrats have expressed a willingness to resume talks in September.
The high-profile appointment of Jeanine Pirro as the US Attorney for the District of Columbia, confirmed 50-45, drew sharp criticism from House Democrats, who warned she would be a 'partisan tool' for the White House.
As the Senate goes on its month-long recess, there are expectations that conversations about changing Senate rules to break the logjam will take place when they return in September. Schumer warned that any unilateral rule changes would be a 'huge mistake.'
[1] New York Times, "Trump's Outburst on Social Media Ends Senate Negotiations," link [2] Politico, "Senate Collapses on Nominee Votes as Trump Attacks Schumer," link [3] CNN, "Senate Negotiations Collapse: What Happened and What's Next," link
- The collapse of Senate negotiations over dozens of nominee confirmations was triggered by President Trump's social media post, which was considered politically inflammatory and hostile towards Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
- The proposed Senate agreement aimed to greenlight President Trump's nominees in exchange for Democrats' demands concerning National Institutes of Health (NIH) and foreign aid funding, but it was overshadowed by Trump's criticism of Schumer's funding demands and commitments on future appropriations.
- The Senate has been embroiled in discussions regarding policy-and-legislation changes to break the logjam, with Senate Minority Leader Schumer warning that any unilateral rule changes would be a 'huge mistake.'
- The high-profile confirmation of Jeanine Pirro as the US Attorney for the District of Columbia sparked controversy, with House Democrats voicing concerns that she would serve as a 'partisan tool' for the White House within the realm of crime-and-justice.
