Chuck Schumer: ‘I’m Staying Put’ as Minority Leader Because I’ve Been Able to Unite My Caucus Against Trump

SHARPTON: “Now, let me bring this up. Illinois Senator Dick Durbin announced this week that he won’t seek reelection ahead of midterms next year, bringing the number of Senate Democrats who’ve announced retirement to four since November. In every case, the senators were older than 65, and the retirements have already prompted waves of younger candidates to launch primary bids to succeed them. Is this a sign of generational change for the Democratic Party?”
Schumer: “Well, there’s always generational change and people always retire. But look, our Democratic Party, we are united, our Democratic caucus, in fighting what Trump is doing on rule of law, on this reconciliation bill, on tariffs. Next week, we’ll bring a bill up to the floor of the Senate, which we’re allowed to do, which would repeal these tariffs. We’ll see if we can get some Republicans to go with us. When we brought a bill last week to the floor on Canada tariffs, four Republicans voted with us and it passed. The Republicans seeing how bad Trump is and how unpopular, you’ve seen these polls, I’m sure, that came out yesterday, his numbers are plummeting, they’re getting afraid to embrace him and that’s going to be a good sign, because early on they just went along with anything he did. But we are united in our caucus. There are — you know, we have a wide range of people and views, but we’re all united in fighting Trump.”
SHARPTON: “Now, staying with that, senator, as the party contemplates its future, you yourself has faced recent calls to retire or at least step down as Senate Democrats’ leader. You said you’re staying put. Tell our audience why. Would you explain that quote?”
Schumer: “I’m staying put because I have been able to unite my caucus in a very strong fight against Trump, and that’s what we have to do. And I’m doing it every day in every way. Just last week, I went to six — we have seven Republicans in New York State, and I went to six of their districts and blasted them for cutting Medicaid, for cutting food, you know, cutting SNAP, cutting — doing the tariffs, cutting Social Security. And it’s really hurting them. So I am raring to go. I have as much energy as anybody, and I’m fighting hard and good. We’re doing the good fight, rev.”