Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said his attitude toward negotiating with President Trump is “nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
In an interview with the Washington Post, Schumer said he figured negotiating with Trump could lead to successful policy play. But, if Trump changes his mind and goes back to only wanting to work with Republicans then Schumer won’t have lost anything, he said.
“Nothing ventured, nothing gained,” Schumer said in an interview. “We thought we had an opportunity to get something good done, and let’s see what happens. We’re very hopeful that they will keep their word.”
Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi seemingly pulled off a shocking deal last week after dining with Trump at the White House. Following that meeting, Schumer and Pelosi announced Trump agreed to support legislation allowing Dreamers — illegal immigrants who were brought to the United States as children — to stay in the country legally in exchange for stronger border security measures.
Many Democrats in Congress are skeptical — “There is no fresh start with Trump, and I don’t trust him,” Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva, D-Ariz., told the Post — but Schumer said he’s taking Trump at his word.
“Look, he said he would do this,” Schumer said. “I take him at his word that he will.”
A deal could be forthcoming in the next few weeks, Schumer said.
“I’d like to see it within the next little while. Look, I don’t want to set a date. Soon. Soon is the right word,” he said.
