As Trump, Schumer Clash, a 'Nasty' Letter Is Sent

President said NY was unprepared for outbreak because of 'impeachment hoax'
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 3, 2020 3:05 AM CDT
Updated Apr 3, 2020 6:34 AM CDT
Trump, Schumer Clash Over COVID-19 Response
In this Tuesday, March 3, 2020 photo, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of NY, speaks about the coronavirus during a media availability on Capitol Hil.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Trump and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer spent Thursday clashing over the administration's coronavirus response, with Schumer criticizing the White House's "tardiness and inadequacy" and Trump firing back in more personal terms. Trump, who was impeached by the House in December, called the Democrat a "bad" senator in what USA Today calls a "notably nasty" letter and told him New York would have been better prepared if Schumer had spent less time on "your ridiculous impeachment hoax." The back-and-forth began early in the day, when Schumer wrote in a letter to Trump that the president should appoint a "czar like a military or logistics expert to lead the effort to make and get the supplies where they’re needed."

The "federal leadership void has left America with an ugly spectacle in which states and cities are literally fending for themselves, often in conflict and competition with each other," Schumer wrote, per Politico. Trump told Schumer, whose state has the most COVID-19 cases in the country, to "stop complaining." "It wouldn’t matter if you got ten times what was needed, it would never be good enough," Trump tweeted. Schumer's office later told CNN the senator had spoken to Trump on Thursday afternoon, and that Trump told Schumer he had written a "very nasty letter" to Schumer but "would try to stop it from going out." Schumer told MSNBC Thursday night that he was "appalled" by the president's letter. He said Trump should "stop the pettiness—people are dying." (More Chuck Schumer stories.)

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