President Donald Trump turned Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer’s anti-corruption message back on Democrats Thursday, offering to work with him while demanding investigations into alleged fraud and misuse of taxpayer money in Democratic-led states.
Trump made the offer after Schumer repeatedly argued that Democrats’ midterm victories reflected voter concerns about what he calls the three “Cs”: costs, chaos and corruption.
“I agree with Cryin’ Chuck Schumer that CORRUPTION is a huge problem in our Country, and I look forward to working with him on eliminating it,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The president then pointed toward allegations of government fraud and financial misconduct in Democratic-led jurisdictions, including Minnesota, California and New York.
Trump said he had directed Vice President JD Vance to concentrate heavily on corruption investigations involving Democratic-run states and cities.
“I have asked Vice President JD Vance to focus mainly on the massive CORRUPTION taking place in Democrat run States and Cities,” Trump wrote.
Trump specifically cited Minnesota, where federal prosecutors and investigators have spent years pursuing fraud cases involving government-funded programs.
The president also pointed toward California and New York while alleging enormous amounts of taxpayer money have disappeared through fraud and mismanagement.
The White House did not immediately provide a detailed accounting supporting every figure cited by Trump, and the scale of losses remains disputed depending on which programs and investigations are included.
The remarks nevertheless represented an attempt by Trump to seize an issue Democrats have increasingly placed at the center of their post-election strategy.
Schumer has repeatedly accused Trump and his administration of corruption and promised aggressive congressional oversight, though Democrats campaigned in “affordability” and making life cheaper for Americans.
“The American people gave our new Democratic majority our marching orders: make their lives more affordable, their government more competent, and their capital less corrupt,” Schumer said on the Senate floor this week.
Schumer has also promised Democrats will pursue investigations when they believe Trump or administration officials have violated federal law.
“There was such rampant corruption. There has to be some investigations,” Schumer said after the election, without providing any evidence.
