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Floor Speech

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Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, Donald Trump looks at the Federal Government and sees one thing: a cash register full of Americans' money--and he keeps trying to ring himself up.

Nearly $2 billion for his MAGA slush fund, a billion more for his gilded ballroom, and not one serious plan to lower costs for families forced to pay the bill.

This week, Trump showed us again exactly what his Presidency is about: not helping Americans, not lowering costs, not making life easier for working families; but finding new ways to turn taxpayer dollars into political payouts, personal perks, and vanity projects.

Just look at this nearly $2 billion slush fund. Just look at it. It is enough to make you cringe.

Trump settled with himself in his own lawsuit against his own government to funnel taxpayer money to his political allies, January 6 insurrectionists, and far-right loyalists.

Let me say that again: Donald Trump settled with himself in his own lawsuit--have you ever heard of something like this?--against his own government to take taxpayer dollars to his political allies, stuff it in their pockets, and, for all we know, his pocket.

Trump didn't bother making a deal with the Devil. He just made a deal with himself to set up this MAGA slush fund.

That is not justice. That is not law and order. That is corruption-- corruption in broad daylight--no disguise, no shame, no attempt to hide it.

And this is the through line of the Trump Presidency: If there is taxpayer money on the table, Donald Trump wants a big cut of it.

Trump wants to fill his coffers. That is why he created this MAGA slush fund. That is why he keeps demanding taxpayers bankroll his billion-dollar ballroom, and it is why his family business always seems to be lurking around the business of government.

Americans are working harder than ever just to make ends meet, while Donald Trump schemes to turn their tax dollars into personal payouts and vanity projects.

And where--where--are the Republicans, here in the Senate and elsewhere? Are they going to stand up for the taxpayer, or are they so afraid of Donald Trump that they will let him raid the Treasury in broad daylight?

The American people are watching, and they will remember who fought to lower their costs and who helped Donald Trump line his pockets.

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