President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Democrats “have no leader” capable of negotiating an end to the ongoing government shutdown, taking aim at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and criticizing what he described as a lack of direction within the Democratic Party, as reported by The New York Post.

Speaking from the Oval Office, President Trump addressed reporters about the budget impasse, which entered its seventh day amid a standoff between congressional Republicans and Democrats over funding priorities.

Mar 4, 2025; Washington, DC, USA; Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) listens as U.S. President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on March 04, 2025, in Washington, DC. President Trump was expected to address Congress on his early achievements of his presidency and his upcoming legislative agenda. Mandatory Credit: Win McNamee-Pool via Imagn Images

“We have a lot of things that we’re going to eliminate and permanently eliminate if the shutdown continues,” Trump said. “The Democrats have no leader. They remind me of Somalia.”

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The President added that he was uncertain whether Schumer still had any real authority within his own caucus. “I don’t, I just don’t know if Schumer has any power anymore,” Trump said. “I look at your leadership — I don’t know who to speak to.”

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The remarks come as Congress remains gridlocked on a spending measure to reopen the federal government. The Senate has failed to advance a funding bill, while the House remains aligned with the White House’s position on budget cuts and agency reform.

When asked how many permanent job cuts could occur if the shutdown continues, President Trump said, “I’ll be able to tell you that in four or five days if this keeps going on.”

The administration has emphasized its intention to use the shutdown as an opportunity to eliminate certain federal programs and spending areas it deems unnecessary.

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Schumer and other Senate Democrats have pushed for additional funding measures, including foreign aid and domestic spending provisions opposed by House Republicans.

The stalemate has now reached a critical point, with federal agencies preparing contingency plans and non-essential operations already suspended.

The White House has maintained that the responsibility for ending the shutdown lies with Democrats, pointing to their refusal to support a short-term continuing resolution that had passed the House earlier this month.

As the shutdown extends into its second week, it marks one of several budget impasses between the Trump administration and congressional Democrats since 2017.

The President’s comments Tuesday signaled frustration with the Senate minority leader and questioned whether Democrats could unify behind any negotiated agreement.

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