White House slams Schumer for saying continuing shutdown ‘better’ for Democrats

The White House criticized Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., for making a “disgusting and revealing” comment about the ongoing shutdown.

Schumer spoke with Punchbowl Newsa Washington, D.C.-based media outlet and said that as the shutdown continues, things continue to “get better” for Democrats.

“Every day gets better for us,” Schumer reportedly told Punchbowl News. “That’s because we thought about it well in advance, and we knew health care would be the focus on September 30, and we prepared for it… Their whole theory was: Threaten us, bamboozle us, and we’ll submit in a day or two.”

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The White House on Thursday criticized Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., for a comment he made about the government shutdown. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images; Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters)

Republicans blamed Schumer for the shutdown, saying it was intended to appease the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, particularly in his home state, as Zohran Mamdani retains the lead in New York’s mayoral race and buzz swirls about Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., potentially challenging Schumer in the upcoming primary. She has not officially declared her candidacy for the Senate.

“Chuck Schumer just said the quietest part out loud: Democrats are gleefully inflicting pain on the American people because of their willingness to provide free health care to illegal aliens,” White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson said in a statement provided exclusively to Fox News Digital.

“Workers are missing paychecks; travelers lack flights; businesses are in difficulty; military families are forced to rely on food pantries; but for Chuck Schumer, it means “every day gets better.” No matter what Chuck Schumer thinks, Americans’ hardship is not a good thing and Democrats must stop inflicting this pain on them and reopen the government now,” Jackson added.

In response to Fox News Digital’s request for comment, Schumer’s office sent an excerpt of his remarks to the Senate.

“Every day that Republicans refuse to negotiate to end this lockdown, the worse things get for Americans – and the clearer it becomes who is fighting for them. Every day, our cause to improve health care and end this lockdown becomes stronger and stronger, as families open their letters showing how much their premiums will rise if Republicans get what they want. They understand why this fight is important – it’s about protecting their care health, their bank accounts and their future.” » Schumer said.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speaks to reporters following the weekly Senate Policy Luncheon on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, Tuesday, October 7, 2025. (Allison Robbert/AP Photo)

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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also disputed Schumer’s view, saying the shutdown was good for Democrats.

“As federal workers worry about missed paychecks, military families turn to food pantries and the nation’s airports face delays – Chuck Schumer and Democrats boast that ‘every day gets better’ for them,” Leavitt wrote on X. “What a disgusting and revealing statement. Democrats delight in inflicting pain to the American people.”

A closed sign stands in front of the National Archives on the first day of the government shutdown, Wednesday, October 1, 2025, in Washington, DC (Julia Demaree Nikhinson – AP Photo)

At a Cabinet meeting Thursday, President Donald Trump lashed out at Schumer.

“So Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries and congressional Democrats are holding the entire federal government hostage,” Trump said. The president also accused Schumer of being afraid that Ocasio-Cortez would run for his seat before predicting that the longtime Democratic senator would soon retire because “his polls are so bad.”

On Wednesday, the White House said it would worsen the consequences of the shutdown.

The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) outlined plans that would not ensure federal workers currently furloughed following the shutdown would receive back pay — upending a 2019 law from the first Trump administration following a 35-day shutdown, Fox News Digital has learned.

The threat that unemployed workers won’t receive their back pay raises the stakes every day Congress fails to pass a funding measure — and puts greater pressure on Democrats as Trump continues to blame them for creating the crisis.

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Diana Stancy, Deirdre Heavey and Elizabeth Elkind of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.