Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On President Trump’s “Golden Age” Of Protecting Special Interests And Hurting Working Americans

Washington, D.C. – Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor on President Trump’s claim that he is ushering in a supposed “Golden Age” for America, when in reality it will be a Golden Age that serves drug companies, powerful oil executives, and rioters who threaten our democracy, over the American people. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Moments after taking the oath of office, President Trump declared that it was the dawning of a golden age here in America.

But one day into his presidency, it’s clear Donald Trump’s golden age is not for the working and middle class. His golden age, rather, is for the special interests, for the wealthy elite, and the corporate insiders he promised to take on as president. Just look at his first day in the White House, which shows exactly what I am saying.

On day one, President Trump, in his executive orders, made it harder for Americans to save on prescription drug costs. President Trump cleared the way for Big Oil polluters and halted leasing of offshore wind farms. He took steps to make it harder to enroll in the ACA and made Medicaid less generous. He removed the United States from the Paris Climate Accords.

Nothing President Trump did on day one lowered grocery prices. Nothing helped Americans achieve their dream of owning a home. Nothing will help working families earn more and save more. Their drug costs will go up. The cost of buying and maintaining a home will go up. The cost of health care will go up. The cost of energy will go up.

So who exactly is Donald Trump’s golden age for? Not for working Americans, that is for sure.

President Trump’s golden age is one for America’s biggest drug companies, who can now worry less about lowering their prices.

It’s a golden age for America’s richest oil executives, who want nothing more than to kill clean jobs and deepen America’s dependence on fossil fuels.

It’s a golden age for America’s top one percent, who want another trillion dollar tax break, paid for on the backs of workers and the middle class.

And, sadly, it’s a golden age for lawlessness and law breakers who were pardoned yesterday by President Trump.

There is no other way to describe President Trump’s pardon of January 6 offenders than un-American.

Let’s be clear: President Trump didn’t just pardon protestors, he pardoned some people convicted of assaulting police officers and seditious conspiracy. It is a betrayal of the highest order of our Capitol Police officers who risked their lives to keep us safe.

When President Trump talks about a golden age, he is talking about a golden age for drug companies, powerful oil executives, and rioters who attack our police and attack our democracy. That is not the golden age Americans want.

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