03/05/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/05/2026 12:22
Washington, D.C. - Today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) spoke on the Senate floor condemning Senate Republicans for their refusal to vote for the War Powers Resolution, enabling Donald Trump and his unpopular war in Iran. Below are Senator Schumer's remarks, which can also be viewed here:
Yesterday was a disappointing and low moment for the United States Senate. With war in the Middle East escalating by the day, Senate Republicans yesterday chose to get behind Trump's military escapades despite overwhelming opposition from the American people.
Shameful. Americans don't want war-not Republican voters, not independents, not even many of Donald Trump's MAGA base. They feel betrayed by what's happening in the Middle East. And they feel betrayed by the Senators in this chamber who refused to stand up for the Constitution and refused to put a check on Donald Trump's belligerence.
The war is widening. There was fighting as far south as the Indian Ocean and drone attacks, perhaps, as far north as Azerbaijan. Meanwhile there is no strategy. Donald Trump's story, and rationale, keeps changing by the day!
If you listen to Pete Hegseth, to Marco Rubio, to Donald Trump, then it is very, very obvious they are making it up as they go along.
And Americans are worried. Gas prices are starting to go up. The national average is now $3.25 a gallon, up from $2.99 from a week ago.
There is a story in Politico from this morning that Susie Wiles, Trump's chief of staff, is "[sounding] the alarm on gas prices." Apparently, the White House is scrambling to find something positive to say about gas prices to change the narrative of high costs.
Here's an idea: if Donald Trump doesn't want gas prices to go up, he should not have unilaterally started a war with Iran. It's another sign that this administration is allergic to having a plan and thinking about the consequences in advance.
So, shame on Senate Republicans for not standing up to Donald Trump and his unpopular war.
Senate Republicans had their chance to do something that would have been overwhelmingly popular: to say no to Trump's war. Instead, they enthusiastically said yes, and now they own this war with Iran just as much as Donald Trump does.
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