Monday, February 3, 2025
Top U.S. Congressional Democrats have spent the weekend posting on social media during a firestorm of activity from the Trump administration, but have not telegraphed any indication of taking formal action.
Over the weekend, President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to raise tariffs on trade partners starting Tuesday, which the editorial board of the Wall Street Journal called “the dumbest trade war in history“. The tariffs—which Trump promised on the campaign trail as a serious policy initiative—has rocked the continent, leading Canada to issue retaliatory tariffs (also starting Tuesday) and Mexico to promise tariffs of their own.
Centibillionare Elon Musk, massive benefactor to the Trump campaign, has access to “sensitive systems used at the US Treasury Department“, according to Bloomberg News.
A spending freeze from Trump, temporarily reversed in a court order, is unconstitutional because only Congress has the power of the purse.
An analysis of social media posts and activity by Democrats in congress from Friday to Sunday have not showed the high-profile figures taking a concrete response.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has posted messages about the mid-air collision last weekend; abortion; consumer prices eight times; USAID; a released American hostage; and Black History Month. In a press conference Sunday, Schumer warned the trade war would result in higher prices for consumers, but promised no actions.
Senator Amy Klobuchar made only a dozen posts, eight of which were related to Trump. Friday night, Klobuchar spoke at the Minnesota Newspaper Association awards, promising to protect the free press. On Sunday, she visited a Minnesotan elder care facility and urged Trump’s administration to help lower prescription costs for seniors.
The same day, Klobuchar appeared on Inside with Jen Psaki laying out what is likely to happen, noting that she supports targeted tariffs, but “he is not using a chisel, he is using a sledgehammer.” She also criticized a purge in the FBI.
