Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., warned President Trump on Tuesday that he needs to “get on board” and support a bipartisan deal to codify protections for so-called “Dreamers” before it is too late.
Schumer said on the Senate floor that Trump’s controversial “shithole countries” remark and other disparaging comments about foreign nations show off an “intransigence” on the part of the president about reaching a deal and called for him to reach an agreement with the group of senators this week.
“President Trump needs to step up,” Schumer said. “He can’t just bluster. He can’t just play a game of brinksmanship. He can’t just be obstinate and say ‘my way or the highway.’ He needs to be willing to take ‘yes’ for an answer.”
“There’s a deal to be had this week. The only person blocking it is President Trump,” Schumer said.
The Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals program, which provides legal protections to illegal immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, is set to expire on March 5.
The New York Democrat said that signing onto any deal would be a good start for Trump to not be viewed as “prejudiced or bigoted” in the wake of the “shithole” controversy last week, which reportedly happened during a meeting at the White House with a bipartisan group of senators.
“If you want to begin the long road back to prove you’re not prejudiced or bigoted, support the bipartisan compromise … One that was aimed at meeting the concerns you voiced,” Schumer said, noting it was negotiated by three Republicans and three Democrats. “This may be the last train leaving the station. President Trump needs to get on board.”
As for the comments themselves, Schumer said they were “certainly unbefitting of the presidency of the United States” and “beneath the dignity of his office.”
