Floor SpeechNeutral2026-06-03

ANTI-WEAPONIZATION FUND

HealthcareTaxesForeign PolicyInfrastructureEthics

Context

On 2026-06-03, Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) delivered a floor speech titled "ANTI-WEAPONIZATION FUND" in the Senate.

Full Text

ANTI-WEAPONIZATION FUND

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 94 (Wednesday, June 3, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 94 (Wednesday, June 3, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S2502-S2503] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] ANTI-WEAPONIZATION FUND Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, now, on the slush fund, to anyone who takes the constantly lying Todd Blanche at his word, I have a bridge to sell you. Yesterday, Todd Blanche claimed the Trump administration will halt its plans to establish a $2 billion MAGA slush fund for Trump and his cronies, but, when asked, Blanche said: I'm not committing to doing anything in writing. Are you kidding me? This, one of the most corrupt things that America has, and he won't even put it down in writing? The American people need the commitment to stop Trump's corruption not only in writing but codified in law, and he won't even write it down because he knows that Trump is lying. He probably knows that he is lying, that in a week or two, Trump will come back, he will come back, and others will come up with a new corrupt scheme very similar to this slush fund, if not the same. Blanche also said that Trump and his family will keep their brazenly corrupt tax immunity. That means that Trump and his family get to keep at least $100 million they owe in unpaid taxes--at least $100 million-- no audits, no consequences, no strings attached. No matter what, from the start, I will personally push to permanently ban both the slush fund and the blank check Trump cut to himself and his family that would allow them to cheat on their taxes when this Republican reconciliation bill comes to the floor. Again, I tell Republicans: You are going to have to vote on ending the corrupt Trump slush fund once and for all. You are going to have to vote on deciding whether Trump will be able to evade any tax audits and will be allowed to cheat on his taxes. You are going to have to vote on it. I ask you this--I ask Leader Thune, I ask every Republican Senator: If you believe the slush fund should be banned, if you believe Trump shouldn't get tax immunity, then why wouldn't you just vote yes and make sure we put it into law? Because we all know that the word of Trump and the word of Blanche are, to put it kindly, flexible and, to put it realistically, not to be trusted--particularly on a matter as vital as this. Does anyone think that Blanche will keep his word to drop this grift? Just weeks ago, Blanche lied under oath to Congress claiming that he met with Epstein survivors. The Epstein survivors themselves said that was a lie. Does anyone think they can trust Blanche when he is in ongoing legal battles with former clients who have accused him of forgery and malpractice? Todd Blanche's word is as worthless as Trump's. [[Page S2503]] So when you see these newspaper headlines, Trump is backing off because Blanche gave his word. Again, I have a bridge to sell you. No one really believes it. Trump just wants to slide off the hook, hope this goes away in a week or two, and come back and do all the things we caught him doing in the last few weeks. Trump's word, of course, the American people know is worthless. No one believes he tells the truth. Trump promised to lower Americans' costs on day one and broke it. Trump promised never to cut Medicaid and broke it. Trump promised never to start any new wars and broke it. Trump promised to release the Epstein files and broke it. Trump has made thousands of other promises, big and small, and broke them all. It is only a matter of time before Blanche and Trump go back on their word and resume their efforts to put your tax dollars in the pockets of MAGA billionaires, violent criminals, and, of course, the Trump family. If Senate Republicans truly want to stop this corruption, stop relying on the word of a compulsive liar, Todd Blanche, start doing your jobs, and pass legislation to ban Trump's MAGA handouts and his rampant tax-cheating. Ban it by law. Ban it permanently. That is what Democrats are going to put on the floor. If you really believe it should be banned, you will vote with us. If you are trying to hide, duck, shimmy, whatever, vote no. Trump may not keep his promises, but Democrats will keep theirs. I assure the American people that. Republicans are going to have to vote on this slush fund on the Senate floor. If Republicans don't vote to ban it, they will have to answer to the outrage of the American people who are sick of lining Trump's pockets when they can't even afford the most basic necessities. ____________________

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ANTI-WEAPONIZATION FUND Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 94 (Wednesday, June 3, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 94 (Wednesday, June 3, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S2502-S2503] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] ANTI-WEAPONIZATION FUND Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, now, on the slush fund, to anyone who takes the constantly lying Todd Blanche at his word, I have a bridge to sell you. Yesterday, Todd Blanche claimed the Trump administration will halt its plans to establish a $2 billion MAGA slush fund for Trump and his cronies, but, when asked, Blanche said: I'm not committing to doing anything in writing. Are you kidding me? This, one of the most corrupt things that America has, and he won't even put it down in writing? The American people need the commitment to stop Trump's corruption not only in writing but codified in law, and he won't even write it down because he knows that Trump is lying. He probably knows that he is lying, that in a week or two, Trump will come back, he will come back, and others will come up with a new corrupt scheme very similar to this slush fund, if not the same. Blanche also said that Trump and his family will keep their brazenly corrupt tax immunity. That means that Trump and his family get to keep at least $100 million they owe in unpaid taxes--at least $100 million-- no audits, no consequences, no strings attached. No matter what, from the start, I will personally push to permanently ban both the slush fund and the blank check Trump cut to himself and his family that would allow them to cheat on their taxes when this Republican reconciliation bill comes to the floor. Again, I tell Republicans: You are going to have to vote on ending the corrupt Trump slush fund once and for all. You are going to have to vote on deciding whether Trump will be able to evade any tax audits and will be allowed to cheat on his taxes. You are going to have to vote on it. I ask you this--I ask Leader Thune, I ask every Republican Senator: If you believe the slush fund should be banned, if you believe Trump shouldn't get tax immunity, then why wouldn't you just vote yes and make sure we put it into law? Because we all know that the word of Trump and the word of Blanche are, to put it kindly, flexible and, to put it realistically, not to be trusted--particularly on a matter as vital as this. Does anyone think that Blanche will keep his word to drop this grift? Just weeks ago, Blanche lied under oath to Congress claiming that he met with Epstein survivors. The Epstein survivors themselves said that was a lie. Does anyone think they can trust Blanche when he is in ongoing legal battles with former clients who have accused him of forgery and malpractice? Todd Blanche's word is as worthless as Trump's. [[Page S2503]] So when you see these newspaper headlines, Trump is backing off because Blanche gave his word. Again, I have a bridge to sell you. No one really believes it. Trump just wants to slide off the hook, hope this goes away in a week or two, and come back and do all the things we caught him doing in the last few weeks. Trump's word, of course, the American people know is worthless. No one believes he tells the truth. Trump promised to lower Americans' costs on day one and broke it. Trump promised never to cut Medicaid and broke it. Trump promised never to start any new wars and broke it. Trump promised to release the Epstein files and broke it. Trump has made thousands of other promises, big and small, and broke them all. It is only a matter of time before Blanche and Trump go back on their word and resume their efforts to put your tax dollars in the pockets of MAGA billionaires, violent criminals, and, of course, the Trump family. If Senate Republicans truly want to stop this corruption, stop relying on the word of a compulsive liar, Todd Blanche, start doing your jobs, and pass legislation to ban Trump's MAGA handouts and his rampant tax-cheating. Ban it by law. Ban it permanently. That is what Democrats are going to put on the floor. If you really believe it should be banned, you will vote with us. If you are trying to hide, duck, shimmy, whatever, vote no. Trump may not keep his promises, but Democrats will keep theirs. I assure the American people that. Republicans are going to have to vote on this slush fund on the Senate floor. If Republicans don't vote to ban it, they will have to answer to the outrage of the American people who are sick of lining Trump's pockets when they can't even afford the most basic necessities. ____________________