GOP Senator Claims Schumer Used Debt Limit As Leverage Against Trump, Criticizes GOP Who Opposed Trump-Endorsed Plan

Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma said on Thursday that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer used the debt limit as leverage against the Trump-endorsed plan.

During an appearance on Laura Ingraham’s “The Ingraham Angle,” Mullin criticized Schumer for allegedly manipulating the debt ceiling negotiations to undermine President-elect Donald Trump’s influence. Mullin also criticized the House Republican members who helped tank the spending bill.

“What he’s wanting to do is put it as part of reconciliation. What he doesn’t realize is that Schumer is wanting to hold the debt limit over President Trump’s head to negotiate on reconciliation because the Republicans in the Senate cannot pass reconciliation without having Democrat support because it takes 60 votes. We can’t do it with just 51, we have to have 60,” Mullin told Ingraham when asked about Republican Texas Rep. Chip Roy’s stance on the issue.

“Keep in mind, President Trump is the art of the deal maker. He understands what it’s going to take to do the job. He’s forward-thinking because he’s been there before. He knows that if he doesn’t get this debt limit now, that this is going to be held over his head and he’s going to be blamed for possibly defaulting on our debt.”

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Defying party lines, 38 Republicans, including Roy, opposed the measure due to concerns over raising the debt ceiling without major spending reductions and the inclusion of $110 billion in unfunded disaster aid.

Mullin added that Schumer’s tactics threaten not only political stability but also the economic health of the nation.