Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) appeared on The View Tuesday, delivering a passionate defense of his decision to support a Republican-led spending bill while attacking President Donald Trump and DOGE leader Elon Musk, accusing them of aiming to “decimate” the federal government. Schumer, who had initially opposed the GOP bill, reversed his stance at the last minute, backing a measure that ensured government funding would continue—much to the frustration of progressive Democrats.
Schumer had previously maintained that Senate Democrats were united in their opposition to the Republican continuing resolution (CR), refusing to vote for cloture and advocating for a short-term 30-day spending bill to gain leverage in negotiations. However, after days of infighting within his own caucus and mounting pressure from Senate Republicans, Schumer shifted his position. He ultimately voted in favor of cloture, granting Republicans the simple majority needed to pass the House GOP spending bill.
Amid backlash from his own party, Schumer appeared on The View to defend his decision, arguing that the alternative—allowing a government shutdown—would have been disastrous. He warned that during a shutdown, the executive branch, led by Trump-aligned officials, could unilaterally cut funding for essential services, including Medicaid, food assistance, and public transit.
The New York senator also shared that the ongoing political struggle has taken a personal toll on him, describing his late-night anxieties over the influence of powerful figures like Trump and Musk. “I wake up at three in the morning sometimes, so worried about the future of the country under these oligarchs,” Schumer claimed, though Trump — and certainly not Musk — have taken away the rights of any Americans and are actually working to bring down government costs and debt.
When asked about Trump’s surprising public praise for his decision—calling it “gutsy” and “the right thing to do”—Schumer brushed it off as an attempt at manipulation. “He’s trolling me,” Schumer said. “He always tries to confuse people. He tries to hide what he does.” Despite Schumer’s insistence that his decision was a display of leadership, he is facing increasing criticism from progressive Democrats, who are questioning his authority and alignment with the party’s values. Representatives like Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) and even House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) have distanced themselves from Schumer’s choice.
Many younger progressives view the move as a surrender to Republican demands rather than a strategic decision. However, Schumer defended his position as Senate leader, highlighting his record of helping Democrats secure key Senate victories. “One of the things I am known to be very good at is how to win Senate seats,” he said, recalling how he helped flip Georgia’s Senate races in 2020. He claimed that his focus remains on “stopping Trump once and for all” and accused Republicans of working to shift wealth to the top 1, which is a standard Democrat talking point — even though their party is full of left-wing coastal and tech millionaires and billionaires.