In Their Own Words – After Months Of Fake Outrage On Trump’s Slush Fund & Sweetheart IRS Deal, Republicans BLOCK Leader Schumer’s Attempt To Ban It

Washington, D.C. - Today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer forced Republicans on the record - and they clearly chose Donald Trump over the American taxpayers. Leader Schumer today went to the Senate floor to offer up legislation that would have abolished Trump's nearly $2 billion insurrectionist slush fund and nullified the IRS sweetheart deal that shields Trump and his family from tax accountability. But, unfortunately, Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) objected to Leader Schumer's unanimous consent request. Below is a transcript of Leader Schumer's remarks before the UC request:

The only way - the only way to ensure Trump's two-billion-dollar taxpayer-funded MAGA slush fund and his family's sweetheart tax fraud deal with the IRS the only way we are going to ensure that they never see the light of the day is to ban them permanently by law.

Republicans need to stop playing dumb and realize Trump has absolutely zero intention to table his slush fund. Just listen to him.

Just this month, Trump said: "Personally I think the weaponization fund is a great idea and so do many other Republicans." So do many other Republicans.

I repeat, Trump said: "I think the weaponization fund is a great idea and so do many other Republicans."

I invite Republicans to prove Trump wrong! Support this bill, outlaw this corruption, say it's a terrible idea on the Floor! So that we can eliminate it permanently, once and for all.

Republicans have passed up opportunity after opportunity to ban these corrupt cash handouts for Trump, his billionaire friends, and his cop-beating January 6 insurrectionists. That's what he wants to do Americans. Instead of using money to reduce your healthcare costs. Instead of using money to reduce your electric costs, your housing costs, your food costs. He wants to give it to his corrupt friends and probably, somehow to himself.

Will Republicans listen to the empty promises of Trump's personal fixer Todd Blanche or to the outraged cries of the American people who despise, despise this corruption?

Will Republicans help Trump and family cheat on their taxes or will they stand up for American taxpayers?

Will Republicans funnel billions of dollars to Trump, MAGA billionaires, and convicted criminals or will they work with Democrats to lower costs for working families?

That's the question before us today, plain and simple. Trump's slush fund, his permission slip for tax fraud, all of his grifting, are a running tally of corruption costs and proof that Trump hasn't drained the swamp - he's just slapped a pool liner on. He's swimming in it and he likes it.

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As a reminder, here is what Senate Republicans have said on the slush fund in the past:

Leader John Thune (R-SD): "Yeah, not a big fan. I'm not sure exactly how they intend to use it. But my understanding is that was just announced. But, yeah, I don't see a purpose for it" [CNN, 5/19/26]

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA): "People are concerned about paying their mortgage or rent, affording groceries and paying for gas, not about putting together a $1.8 billion fund for the President and his allies to pay whomever they wish with no legal precedent or accountability. This is adding to our national debt. If there needs to be a settlement, the administration should bring it to Congress to decide." [Twitter, 5/20/26]

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA): "We are a nation of laws. You can't just make up things whole piece," said Cassidy, who voted to convict Trump in the impeachment trial over his Jan. 6 actions. "People are concerned about making ends meet, not about putting a slush fund together without a legal precedent." [NOTUS, 5/19/26]

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME): "It is in real trouble - and it should be" [NYT, 5/21/26]

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME): "I do not support the weaponization fund as it has been described. …. I do not believe individuals that were convicted of violence against police officers on Jan. 6 should be entitled to reimbursement of their legal fees." [CNN, 5/21/26]

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR): "Who thought this was a good idea? Who chose this timing?" [WSJ, 5/23/26]

Sen. John Curtis (R-UT): "I don't like the fund at all," said Sen. John Curtis (R., Utah), who added he didn't think any guardrails could fix it. [WSJ, 5/21/26]

Sen. John Curtis (R-UT): "What are my concerns? An executive branch being able to at their will, um send money to people without the proper judicial rule? Those are my concerns." [PBS NewsHour, 5/21/26]

Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS): Sen. Roger Marshall told reporters that he "absolutely" still has concerns about the fund following the GOP lunch. [NOTUS, 5/21/26]

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY): "So the nation's top law enforcement official is asking for a slush fund to pay people who assault cops? Utterly stupid, morally wrong - Take your pick." [The Hill, 5/21/26]

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY): "I think it's unprecedented for someone to be on the both sides of a legal decision, where you make a plea bargain with yourself, essentially" [The Hill, 5/22/26]

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC): "Imagine that, a fund that is set up to compensate people who assaulted Capitol Police officers and other responding agencies. People that had pled guilty to physical acts … may actually be able to get compensated. How absurd does that sound coming out of my mouth?" Tillis said, his voice rising with frustration, before the meeting. [The Hill, 5/22/26]

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC): "It makes no sense. So it's politically tone deaf. Whoever did it should be fired. Let's figure out a way to help people who are victims of warfare, but not people who are convicted by a jury of their peers or or pled guilty to assaulting a police officer. Please." … "I stand by it. It's stupid on stilts." [CNN State of the Union, 5/24/26]

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC): "Payout pot for punks." [NBC News, 5/21/26]

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