Leader Schumer Floor Remarks Addressing President-Elect Trump’s Comments On Renaming The Gulf Of Mexico And Urging Leaders To Instead Focus On Lowering Costs For The American[...]

Washington, D.C. - Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor on President-elect Trump's suggestion to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, agreeing to address this only if the President-elect will work with Democrats on a plan to lower costs for Americans. Below are Senator Schumer's remarks, which can also be viewed here:

I want to make a brief comment about the President-elect's press conference yesterday.

Donald Trump throws out a lot of strange, and rather random, ideas on a regular basis. He did it yesterday, when suggesting we rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America.

Well, let me say this: I'd agree to working with Donald Trump on renaming the Gulf of Mexico, only if he first agrees to work with us on an actual plan to lower costs for Americans. That is what the American people want us to focus on first, not on renaming bodies of water. Our Democratic priorities are so much more closely aligned with the concerns of the American people than Donald Trump's seem to be.

The incoming President knows he has a tall task ahead of him. He spent years on the campaign trail making outlandish promises he won't be able to keep. In fact, he's getting ready to do the opposite of what he promised, by cutting taxes for the very, very wealthy.

Donald Trump is in over his head, so he's doing what he always does in times like this: distract America with crazy ideas.

Renaming the Gulf of Mexico may be a zany new idea, but it isn't going to help people save money at the grocery store. It's not going to make trips to the pharmacy more affordable. It's not going to help anyone find a good-paying job. Donald Trump says these things because it will get him attention and make him sound like a tough guy.

If Donald Trump wants to rename a gulf to sound more patriotic, I'd say we will help him on one condition and only one condition: let's come up with a real plan first - not a concept of a plan - to lower prices for Americans. Let's do that first. Then, Donald Trump can have his fun.

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