Schumer slams Trump for ‘skipping town’ on Asia trip amid shutdown
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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Friday accused President Donald Trump of “leaving town” for a trip to Asia during the ongoing government shutdown.
Trump departed for Asia Friday night for a weeklong trip that will also include Malaysia, Japan and South Korea. Republicans and Democrats are divided over negotiations to end the shutdown that began earlier this month; Each side blames the other for the GOP’s control of the White House and both houses of Congress.
“In the midst of the longest government shutdown in American history – a crisis of his own making – President Trump’s priorities are seriously misplaced,” Schumer said in a statement.
TRUMP SAYS SCHUMER AND SENATE DEMOCRATS ARE HOLDING THE GOVERNMENT ‘HOSTHOST’ WITH THE SHUTDOWN: ‘WE WILL NOT BE FORCED’
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused President Donald Trump of “skipping town” on a trip to Asia during the ongoing government shutdown. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib, File)
“As Americans struggle to make ends meet, federal workers go without pay, and millions of families brace for rising health care costs, the President is leaving the country,” he continued.
Schumer added: “America is shut down and the President is leaving town.”
The senator said Democrats tried to meet with Trump, but the president “abandoned” his responsibilities.
“Democrats have repeatedly asked President Trump to meet with us to negotiate a bipartisan agreement to address the health care crisis and find a way to reopen the government. But instead of doing his job, President Trump is giving up on that,” Schumer said.
Republicans and Democrats are divided over negotiations to end the shutdown that began earlier this month. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images; Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters)
Schumer also called on GOP lawmakers in Congress to work across the aisle to reach a deal to end the shutdown.
“With the president out of the country, the responsibility falls squarely on Congressional Republicans to step up, come to the table, do their job and deliver a deal that will reopen the government and protect Americans from another health care disaster,” he said.
The top Senate Democrat added: “Americans deserve a government that works as hard as they do, not a leader who shirks responsibility when they need it most.”
BERNIE SANDERS CONFLICTS WITH TOWNHALL PARTICIPANTS OVER SCHUMER’S LEADERSHIP DURING THE SHUTDOWN
President Donald Trump is heading to Asia for a trip that will also include Malaysia, Japan and South Korea. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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While in Asia, Trump is expected to meet with regional allies on trade, including a trade war with China as well as Beijing’s tightening of export controls on rare earth minerals critical for certain technologies.
The president is also expected to discuss security in the region and reaffirm America’s commitment to supporting its allies.
