Vice President JD Vance leveled strong criticism against Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, blaming him for the recent government shutdown. According to Vance, Senate Democrats are using the shutdown “for the benefit of illegal aliens.” He pointed to their demand for $1.5 trillion to cover free healthcare for illegal immigrants and gender transition care for minors as the crux of the issue.
The shutdown, which took effect at midnight, came despite significant public disapproval of the Democrats’ approach. A recent New York Times poll indicated that a majority of voters, including nearly half of Democrats, feel it is unacceptable to force a government shutdown to promote their agenda. Vance articulated this sentiment during an interview with Newsmax’s Mike Carter, referencing Schumer’s past comments in the 1990s where he condemned taxpayer benefits for illegal immigrants, calling it “fraud in immigration.” Vance said, “Chuck Schumer once recognized that it was disastrous to give illegal aliens rewards for breaking the law. Now, he wants to shut down the government unless we… reward illegal aliens for breaking the law.”
During the interview, Vance elaborated on his views about the shift in Democratic leadership’s stance on immigration. He asserts that they seem to believe that “the only way to be compassionate is to be compassionate to illegal aliens, rather than American citizens.” This focus, he argues, neglects the rights and needs of those who are legally in the country. “The American people’s government exists for the American people,” he added, reinforcing his commitment to reopen the government for those who belong here legally.
Vance also attempted to explain why Schumer might be backing these controversial policies. He speculated that Schumer could be “terrified” of a primary challenge from progressive representatives like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, which influences his decision-making. He characterized the Democrats’ motivation for shutting down the government as aligned with far-left radicals within their party. “Chuck Schumer is listening to the far left radicals in his own party because he’s terrified of a primary challenge,” Vance said.
When questioned about the uncharacteristic shift in Schumer’s positions over the years, Vance noted a stark contrast with former President Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, who, he asserts, would not have embraced the current approach to illegal immigration. He called the Democrats’ move “bad for the country” and detrimental to their political future.
As the conversation unfolded, Vance reiterated that their administration’s mission revolves around American citizens. He urged Schumer to abandon the current route and collaborate with moderate Democrats and Senate Republicans to move forward. “I’d invite Chuck Schumer to join the moderate Democrats and 52 Senate Republicans, do the right thing, open up the People’s Government, and then let’s fix healthcare policy for the American people,” he stated.
The comments from Vance reflect a clear frustration with the current state of Democratic leadership and their handling of immigration and government funding issues. His critiques resonate with a belief in prioritizing the needs of American citizens while questioning the motivations behind the recent Democratic strategies. With the government shut down, the discussion surrounding these issues will likely intensify in the coming days.
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