Trump Calls Senate Democrats “CRAZED LUNATICS” Amid Nominee Confirmation Standoff
Former President Donald Trump didn’t hold back in a fiery late-night post on his Truth Social platform, where he slammed Senate Democrats — and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in particular — for what he called an outrageous political stunt. Trump accused them of dragging their feet on confirming his executive nominees and demanding billions of dollars in government funds in exchange for their votes.
In his usual outspoken style, Trump wrote, “Democrats, lead by Cryin’ Chuck Schumer, are slow walking my Nominees, more than 150 of them. They wanted us to pay, originally, two billion dollars for approvals. The Dems are CRAZED LUNATICS!!!” This comment sparked headlines and reignited the ongoing battle over Senate confirmations and budget negotiations.
What’s the Deal?
At the heart of this political drama is a power play over the confirmation of Trump’s nominees — over 150 individuals awaiting Senate approval before the August recess. Schumer and Senate Majority Leader John Thune reportedly tried to broker a deal that would confirm roughly two dozen of Trump’s picks in the short term. But there was a catch: Schumer pushed for releasing billions of dollars in federal funding, including a substantial $5 billion allocation for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as a price for supporting the nominees.
This move was perceived by Trump and many Republicans as a form of political extortion — essentially Democrats demanding billions as a quid pro quo for letting the Senate process move forward. Trump didn’t mince words in his response.
Trump’s Defiant Response
In one of his signature Truth Social rants, Trump called on Republicans to reject what he described as “political extortion” by the Democrats. “Do not accept the offer, go home and explain to your constituents what bad people the Democrats are, and what a great job the Republicans are doing, and have done, for our Country,” Trump wrote on Saturday.
He didn’t stop there — directly telling Schumer, “GO TO HELL!” Such blunt rhetoric from Trump highlights how personal and bitter this standoff has become.
The Senate’s Dilemma
The Senate Republicans currently hold the majority in the upper chamber, which gives them the power to move confirmations forward. However, the slow pace and opposition from Democrats have caused frustration on the GOP side. As a result, some Republicans are considering what’s called the “nuclear option” — a procedural maneuver that could speed up confirmations drastically.
This nuclear option might involve cutting debate times for nominees to just a few hours or even minutes, significantly reducing the opportunity for opposition to stall votes. Some GOP senators are even exploring ways to reduce the number of nominees needing Senate approval altogether, which would streamline the process.
South Dakota Senator Mike Rounds spoke to Politico about the urgency of the situation, saying, “We are absolutely trying to avoid a nuclear option issue, but at some point you’ve got to have an operational government.” His comment underscores the pressure on the Senate to keep government appointments moving despite political gamesmanship.
Schumer’s Side of the Story
Of course, Schumer isn’t taking Trump’s accusations lying down. Instead, he has openly mocked Trump’s frustration and the president’s attempts to pressure Democrats. In a video posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Schumer took a jab at Trump: “Donald Trump tried to pressure, threaten, cajole, name call Democrats. He took his ball home and got nothing.”
Adding to the theatricality, Schumer even joined in the meme culture wars. He shared a viral clip of Trump stumbling on the stairs as he boarded Air Force One, overlaid with the “Nothing beats a Jet2 holiday” audio — a popular meme format mocking awkward or embarrassing moments. This move by Schumer shows how personal and public the feud has become, mixing high-stakes politics with internet humor.
When reached for comment by the Daily Beast, Schumer did not immediately respond, leaving many to speculate how this battle will unfold in the coming weeks.
What’s Next?
The stakes in this confirmation fight go beyond just political point-scoring. These nominees represent critical appointments to various federal agencies and courts, and the delays could impact government functions. At the same time, the fight over billions in government funding for agencies like the NIH highlights deeper disputes over budget priorities and political leverage.
Republicans are under pressure to act decisively. If they deploy the nuclear option, it could set a precedent for future Senate operations and deepen partisan divides. On the other hand, agreeing to Democratic demands could be seen as giving in to political ransom.
Trump’s calls to his party to “explain to your constituents” what’s going on reflect his strategy to turn this into a public issue — framing Democrats as obstructionists and painting Republicans as champions of effective governance.
Quick Recap:
-
Trump accuses Senate Democrats and Schumer of “slow walking” 150+ nominee confirmations.
-
Democrats allegedly demand $2 billion, including $5 billion for NIH, in exchange for votes.
-
Trump calls Democrats “CRAZED LUNATICS” and urges GOP to reject deal.
-
Senate GOP considers “nuclear option” to speed up confirmations.
-
Schumer mocks Trump, posts viral meme, and denies yielding to pressure.
Why It Matters
This confirmation stalemate is just the latest chapter in a long saga of political battles between Trump and Senate Democrats. It reveals how high the tensions remain, even as Trump is no longer in office, and shows how Senate procedures are weaponized in partisan fights.
The outcome will affect not only Trump’s legacy and political influence but also the functionality of federal agencies and the judicial system. With the Senate returning from recess in September, the clock is ticking to see if either side will compromise or if the battle will escalate further.
Login