Leader Schumer Dear Colleague On Donald Trump's Disastrous First 100 Days
New York, N.Y. – Today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer sent the following letter to Senate Democrats outlining the strategies Democrats will take to expose the chaos, economic pain, and attacks on democracy caused by Donald Trump’s disastrous first 100 days, and to draw a clear contrast between Democrats’ efforts to lower costs, protect Social Security and Medicaid, and defend the rule of law, and Republicans’ focus on helping billionaires at the expense of working families. In his Dear Colleague letter, Senator Schumer emphasizes the need for Senate Democrats to stay united, continue strong oversight, and fight back every day against Donald Trump’s harmful agenda.
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April 27, 2025
Dear Colleague:
Donald Trump’s first 100 days as president have been 100 days from hell for the American people. His first 100 days have been the worst for any president in modern history, and unsurprisingly, he has the lowest 100-day job approval any president has seen in 80 years.
Polls show Americans are already exasperated by the chaos and furious at the direction he is taking our country.
This upcoming work period, Senate Democrats will continue fighting back, illuminating and speaking out against Donald Trump’s disastrous policies every day.
Like many of you, I spent the last two weeks crisscrossing my state—including in six of New York’s seven Republican districts. I met with seniors, restaurant owners, health care workers, veterans, and small business owners. Nobody felt the “golden age” Donald Trump promised. Instead, I heard from people worried, some even panicked, about Donald Trump’s tariffs and inflation, about Social Security, about Elon Musk and DOGE, and deeply troubled by Donald Trump’s autocratic attacks against due process, the rule of law, and democracy.
Through our numerous Days of Action this work period, I stood alongside seventy-five New Yorkers of all backgrounds to send Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Republicans a clear message: Hands off our Social Security. Hands off our Medicaid. Hands off American democracy.
Thanks to the many of you who held events in your states as well. As we look forward to this work period, there will be more opportunities to show the American people the contrast between Democrats and Republicans: While we are fighting every day for working people, Republicans fight for billionaires.
Soon, Republicans are expected to take the next steps and mark up legislation to cut taxes for billionaires while slashing Medicaid into oblivion. We must hammer away at the Republican agenda at every opportunity, so let me share just some of the ways we will do so starting this week:
On Tuesday, Senate Democrats will take to the floor to speak late into the evening against Donald Trump’s disastrous 100 days. On Wednesday, we will join with our House colleagues to decry in one voice the many ways Donald Trump has already failed our country in his second term.
We will continue to oppose deeply unqualified nominees that have no business serving in the Administration.
And we will do what Senate Republicans refuse: Conduct strong oversight and hold the Administration accountable for its incompetence and the harm they are doing to the American people. This includes looking into the disastrous leadership at the Pentagon, pushing back on the attacks at the Social Security Administration, fighting the attacks on educational resources like PBS, and exposing the chilling arrests of individuals without a shred of due process.
As we hammer at the Republican agenda day after day, Americans will see the stark contrast between Democratic unity and Republican disarray. Democrats are firmly united to lower people’s costs, protect families’ health care, and hold this Administration accountable.
But Republicans are in disarray and it is no wonder: Republicans in the House are fighting with each other, Republicans in the Senate are fighting with each other, and Republican leadership in both chambers are at odds for the simple reason that their policies are highly unpopular with the American people.
Finally, I want to make a very important point: Americans are losing trust quicker than before in Donald Trump’s ability to move America in a better direction, thanks in no small part to Democrats’ focus on exposing his failed policies. A look at polls show how quickly Donald Trump has lost the confidence of the American people:
- An NBC poll shows 55% of American now disapprove of the job Donald Trump is doing as president.
- Today 44% of families believe they will be worse off financially a year from now—a level not seen even during the Great Recession or 1970s stagflation.
- New polls from Reuters, Pew Research, and Gallup show approval of Donald Trump’s economic agenda is near its lowest levels ever. Consumer expectations have plunged to their lowest levels since 1990.
- An AP-NORC poll shows half of Americans are worried about a recession and rising inflation.
These datapoints should be a red flashing warning sign to our Republican colleagues. They show a nation in crisis because of Donald Trump’s presidency, and we are just 100 days in.
As long as Donald Trump continues to double down on his disastrous agenda, he’ll face resistance—from Democrats, the courts, and the American people. We’ll keep fighting to defend our democracy and empower Americans to push back against Republican efforts to undermine it.
I look forward to recapping the successful state work period with you and hitting the ground running this week.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Schumer
United States Senator