President Donald Trump unleashed a fierce attack on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer Wednesday, claiming Democrats are engaging in “extortion” by delaying the confirmation of hundreds of his nominees.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump accused Schumer of using unprecedented tactics to stall appointments, saying no administration has faced such a blockade. Efforts by Senate Republicans to reach an agreement with Schumer earlier in the week fell apart without a resolution.
“Politically embattled Senator, Cryin’ Chuck Schumer, wants the Republicans to pay, as extortion, two billion dollars in order for the radical left Democrats to approve the hundreds of Trump appointments who have been waiting for months, and are raring to go,” Trump wrote.
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“This has never happened before. There has never, in U.S. history, been such a delay. They are extortionists! Republicans must create legislation in order to get out of the grasp of these country-hating thugs. Move quickly!” he added.
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The bitter standoff escalated after lawmakers left Capitol Hill on Monday without reaching a deal, intensifying Republican frustration over what they describe as a blanket Democratic filibuster of Trump’s nominees. So far, only Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been confirmed without major hurdles.
Democrats had reportedly demanded billions in additional funding for the National Institutes of Health and foreign aid, which Trump cited as the basis of his $2 billion “extortion” accusation.
In response, some Republicans are now pushing for a rules change to end the filibuster for nominations, a move that would allow approvals with a simple majority vote.
“I think that way is going to happen anyways, because of what Schumer has done. He’s forced this, and it’s ridiculous that he’s doing this,” said Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla. “And so, whatever, we’re at this point, and we’ll do, you know what they say, every action requires an equal [reaction], and that’s what we’re at right now.”
Out of more than 1,200 positions requiring Senate confirmation, Republicans have cleared over 130 of Trump’s appointees to date. However, more than 140 nominees remain stalled on the Senate calendar.
“I think they’re desperately in need of change,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., on Tuesday. “I think that the last six months have demonstrated that this process, nominations, is broken. And so I expect there will be some good robust conversations about that.”
