President Donald Trump on Tuesday accused Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Senate Democrats of “holding the entire federal government hostage” during the ongoing government shutdown, saying Republicans would not bow to “extortion” over spending demands.
Speaking during a lunch event in the White House Rose Garden, Trump blasted Schumer and his caucus for refusing to advance a short-term funding measure known as a continuing resolution (CR) that would reopen the government.
“Chuck Schumer and the Senate Democrats need to vote for the clean, bipartisan CR and reopen our government. It’s got to be reopened right now,” Trump said. “They are the obstructionists. And the reason they’re doing it is because we’re doing so well. We’re doing well all over the world.”
The shutdown, now in its 21st day, began after Democrats rejected a temporary funding measure over disputes involving immigration enforcement, border operations, and reductions to climate and housing programs. Federal agencies have begun scaling back services as the standoff drags on, with hundreds of thousands of federal workers furloughed or working without pay.
Trump placed direct blame on Schumer for the stalemate, referring to it as “the Schumer shutdown.” “You can call it the Schumer shutdown or the Democrats’ shutdown — call it whatever you want,” Trump said. “We will not be extorted on this crazy plot of theirs.”
The president also mocked Schumer’s standing within his party, saying the Democratic leader was “in deep trouble” and “losing in all of the polls.” “He’s even losing to AOC, plus three,” Trump said, referencing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and her progressive allies in Congress.
Trump said Democrats were blocking funding to protect “wasteful programs” and “pet projects” that his administration has sought to eliminate. “Many of the things that they wanted are things that we don’t want — things that are just so bad for our country, and we’re cutting those things out,” Trump said.
He singled out Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought for his role in reshaping the federal budget, jokingly referring to him by a nickname used by Democrats. “You know, they call him Darth Vader. I call him a fine man,” Trump said. “But he’s cutting Democrat priorities, and they’re never going to get them back.”
The president called on Senate Democrats to “stop the madness” and allow the government to reopen. “In the greatest moment in the history of our country, in terms of wealth, in terms of job creation, and in terms of investment coming in, these guys go on strike. It’s really a shame,” Trump said. “So I’m asking them to be smart. It’s not working. They’re getting killed in the polls. The public understands what they’re doing. They’re doing the wrong thing.”
Republican leaders have backed Trump’s position, arguing that Democrats are using the shutdown to stall his deportation initiatives and budget rollbacks. Democrats, meanwhile, have accused Trump of engineering the crisis to secure leverage for broader executive powers and cuts to domestic spending.
The shutdown has drawn attention to growing divisions within the Democratic Party, as progressives press Schumer to take a harder line against Trump’s immigration enforcement and fiscal reforms.
Trump, who has sought to highlight those divisions, appeared to suggest Schumer has lost control of his caucus. “I think he’s mentally gone. He’s been beat up by young radical lunatics — and I think Chuck Schumer is, he’s gonzo,” the president said later Tuesday on social media.
White House officials said negotiations remain ongoing but stressed that the administration would not agree to new spending conditions. “The president has been clear — the government will reopen when Democrats stop holding it hostage for political gain,” a senior aide said.
So far, Senate Democrats have shown little sign of relenting, leaving Congress gridlocked as federal agencies warn that certain benefits and operations could be delayed if the shutdown continues into November.