Donald Trump has launched his second term with a brazen attack on democracy, pardoning over 1,500 January 6th criminals, issuing unconstitutional orders to end birthright citizenship, and giving his blessing to a billionaire doing a Nazi salute in front of a national audience.
Yet instead of mounting bold opposition, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer responded by calling for bipartisanship.
What does bipartisanship with MAGA extremism even look like? Does it mean working with Trump to shred the Constitution, trample on immigrants, and dismantle voting rights? Does it mean standing by while MAGA Republicans burn democracy to the ground?
This is not leadership. It’s a betrayal of the millions of Americans who elected Democrats to fight back.
Sign the letter and tell Chuck Schumer: we need a leader who will condemn Trump’s authoritarian agenda, mobilize Senate Democrats to block extremism, and reject any fantasy of common ground with those attacking our rights and freedoms.
Together, we’ll send a clear message: no more excuses. It's time to fight.
The text of your email:
On the same day Donald Trump pardoned over 1,500 January 6th criminals and issued an unconstitutional order to eliminate birthright citizenship, you responded with a call for bipartisanship.
This is not leadership. This is surrender.
Trump’s actions are not just political maneuvers; they’re authoritarian attacks on our democracy. The people who stormed the Capitol weren’t misguided—they were intent on overturning the will of the American people. And now, Trump is rewarding them while laying the groundwork to strip fundamental rights from immigrants. These are not the actions of a president seeking compromise; they’re the actions of a demagogue consolidating power.
Your call for bipartisanship doesn’t meet this moment—it undermines it. Bipartisanship with MAGA extremists doesn’t exist. It provides cover for their lawlessness and legitimizes their agenda. It tells Americans who are scared, angry, and looking for hope that Democrats are unwilling to fight for them.
We need more from you. We need bold, unapologetic resistance. Here’s what leadership looks like in this moment:
- Condemn Trump’s authoritarian actions unequivocally. Speak clearly and forcefully against pardoning insurrectionists and attempts to dismantle constitutional rights.
- Mobilize Senate Democrats to block MAGA extremism at every turn. Use every procedural tool at your disposal to halt their dangerous agenda.
- Acknowledge that there is no “common ground” with those who want to burn democracy to the ground. Call them out for what they are: a threat to everything this country stands for.
The stakes could not be higher. Your legacy—and the future of democracy—will be defined by how you respond in this moment. Will you lead the charge against authoritarianism, or will you be remembered for standing idly by while it took hold?
We’re watching, and we’re demanding more. New York deserves a leader who will fight for us—not one who folds under the illusion of bipartisanship.