CNN political commentator and former Obama adviser Van Jones warned of a “volcanic eruption of outrage” directed toward Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer after the federal spending bill passed Friday night.
Newsweek reached out to Schumer’s office via email Friday night for comment.
Why It Matters
The stopgap bill or continuing resolution (CR) triggered, at first, a contentious period in the House among Republicans as certain lawmakers were on the fence about backing it.
President Donald Trump threw his support behind the House GOP bill but Republican Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky rebuked Trump’s guidance, ultimately voting no. The bill passed the House, however, and advanced to the Senate, setting the stage for the Democrats‘ strife.
Earlier this week, Schumer warned that Republicans did not have enough Democrats on board to pass the bill but then reversed course, saying he would vote for it. Schumer faced backlash from key members of his party including Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who said senators voting in favor of the bill created a “wide sense of betrayal.”
What To Know
While speaking with CNN‘s Erin Burnett on Friday, Jones said he has never seen this level of “volcanic anger at a Democrat ever.”
“We can be grumpy. We can be frustrated with each other, there is, there is a volcanic eruption of outrage at leader Schumer because we want a Mitch McConnell,” Jones said. “I remember when Obama had all the cards, Mitch McConnell drove Obama nuts, twisted his pinkie, broke his kneecaps, and got stuff done for Republicans when they shouldn’t have gotten an inch, they got miles.”
Jones continued: “We have a Senate majority leader who is beloved in this party, but we want somebody who’s gonna stand up to this bully. Stand up to this bully. Do something. And if you shut the government down and it gets … a little bit crazy, at least some politics is about the rationality. There’s an emotional need to stop Donald Trump and Elon Musk from running over this party. And … I think Chuck Schumer has radically misread the room.”
In a video posted to X, formerly Twitter, Schumer explains his rationale for green-lighting the CR, saying that a government shutdown would be used by Trump and billionaire Elon Musk to “shift into overdrive.”
In the video, Schumer says that a shutdown would have provided the landscape for Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency to potentially fire millions of federal workers, and shutter entire departments. The senator from New York also says it would have benefited billionaires in the form of tax cuts.
The U.S. court systems could run out of money during a government shutdown, Schumer adds, and that the courts are among the few “refuges” able to thwart Musk and Trump during the president’s second term.
What People Are Saying
Trump on Truth Social Friday morning: “Congratulations to Chuck Schumer for doing the right thing — Took ‘guts’ and courage! The big Tax Cuts, L.A. fire fix, Debt Ceiling Bill, and so much more, is coming. We should all work together on that very dangerous situation. A non pass would be a Country destroyer, approval will lead us to new heights. Again, really good and smart move by Senator Schumer. This could lead to something big for the USA, a whole new direction and beginning! DJT”
House Speaker Mike Johnson posted to X on Friday: “Republicans have again stood together to get the job done, this time to pass a CR that freezes spending and funds the government for the remainder of FY25. Shamefully, 99% of Democrats in Congress voted to SHUT DOWN the government—simply because they seem to hate President Trump more than they love America.”
Continuing: “Never forget that Democrats voted to withhold: the paychecks of our troops, border patrol agents, and TSA employees; health care and benefits for veterans; and essential services and programs—just to make a meaningless political point. While Democrats try to use the American people as political pawns, Republicans are working to deliver real, positive results for everyone.”
What Happens Next
The CR moves to Trump’s desk to sign before the deadline of 11:59 p.m. Friday.