Schumer says U.S. is "staring into the abyss of the health care crisis" as Trump prepares to leave for Asia

In his own remarks on the Senate floor, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the president as Americans brace for a spike in health insurance premiums and the government remains closed.

"We are staring into the abyss of the health care crisis here in America, and what is Donald Trump doing as we stare into the abyss of the health care crisis?" Schumer said. "He's flying off yet again to another corner of the world while people's premiums are set to skyrocket here at home."

The New York Democrat accused Mr. Trump of "bulldozing" the East Wing of the White House and seeking a $230 million settlement from the Justice Department for claims stemming from earlier federal investigations into him.

"We're in the middle of a health care crisis that will decimate tens of millions of Americans," Schumer said. "But Donald Trump doesn't seem to want to touch the topic with a 10-foot pole and has decided to fly off to another country yet again without negotiating with Democrats."

The president is set to leave Friday for a trip to Asia, where he said he will make stops in Malaysia, Japan and South Korea.

"It's hard to fathom someone more out of touch and oblivious to our nation's struggles than the current president," Schumer said.

The Senate minority leader accused the president of using the presidency to enrich himself, pointing to the claims brought against the Justice Department.

"While Americans are agonizing over their health care, Donald Trump is using the presidency to reach into the taxpayers' till and put money in his own pocket," he said.

While Republicans are blaming Democrats for the shutdown, Democrats are pointing to Republicans as responsible.

"The shutdown is on Donald Trump's back, and the American people know it," Schumer said. "They know that Republicans have the presidency, the House and the Senate, and the shutdown is on them."

Schumer called Sen. Ron Johnson's bill to pay essential workers a "ruse," and said Democrats "will not give Donald Trump a license to play politics with people's livelihoods."

"It doesn't end the pain of the shutdown. It extends it," he said. "The only way to pay every federal worker is for Republicans to get serious, sit down with Democrats, avert their health care crisis and reopen the government."

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