In an eyebrow-raising, eye-opening interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, February 23, Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) told host Kristen Welker that he is “proud” to see a growing movement on the left to stop Trump, something showing the tendency toward obstruction rather than trying to work with Trump on popular matters.
Beginning his commentary, Booker said, “I sit with 46 other Senate Democrats and they are united in this fight working with state attorneys general, working with governors and working with the greater American population to stop Donald Trump from violating the Constitution being violating separation of powers, violating civil service laws and many other things they’re doing.”
Continuing, he said, “The reason we’re winning case after case in front of Republican judges and Democratic appointed judges is because what Donald Trump is doing is illegal and it has to be stopped. I am proud it see a movement growing to stop Donald Trump from doing destructive things hurting Americans.”some of your democrats support shutting down the government to protest his policies.”
Building on that, “Meet the Press” host Kristen Welker noted that there are numerous Democrats who would prefer to shut down the government rather than work with Trump, saying, “We are three weeks away from a potential government shutdown. Some of your Democrats support shutting down the government to protest his policies.”
Booker, responding, freaked out about the Republican desire to shut down the wasteful Department of Education, saying, “They control the House, the Senate and the White House. They are showing they want to shut down the government. They’re trying to shut down the Department of Education and USAID. They have the power and they won the election. They have to keep the government going.”
Welker asked, “You won’t keep it open?” Booker told her, “When government shuts down people get hurt. I have to protect and defend Americans. They’re reckless, really, truly incompetent way they’re functioning government right now is hurting so many people I am going to do everything I can to stop them.” Watch him here:
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Posting about the exchange on X (formerly Twitter), Sen. Booker said, “Americans are clear: they want lower prices and an economy that works for them. Instead, President Trump and Elon Musk are creating crisis after crisis across our communities — hurting everything from healthcare and hospitals, to farmers, to nuclear security — all to make room for a tax cut for billionaires.”
Commenters slammed Booker. Some sounded off on Democrat insouciance, during the Biden presidency, about the subjects he claims to care about, saying things like “Seriously……What were you and your party doing the past 4 years?” and “
Funny We wanted lower prices the last 4 years, where were you then Cory? playing your games as usual.”
Others noted that serious policy is needed, not meaningless platitudes about “resisting” Trump. One such commenter said, “Platitudes mean nothing. We have $36 trillion in debt. Both parties are responsible. Tax cuts won’t help, but there is an opportunity to be bipartisan and shape policy. Yet this isn’t pursued. Disappointing.”
Still another commenter said, “So tired of the gaslighting of some of the Democrats in a futile attempt to deflect attention from the real issues: systematic fraud, waste, and embezzlement from the citizens whose taxes pay their salaries. Oh, and then there is that tiny little matter of the fact that the nation is facing bankruptcy as a result.”
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video