Schumer Claims Victory as Senators Leave for August Recess Without a Deal on Trump Nominees

Republicans wanted a deal to work through a backlog of nominees before the August recess. Democrats didn’t give it to them.

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Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill. Mariam Zuhaib/AP

After seven grueling months of legislative session, senators are finally headed home for their August recess — and Democrats are claiming victory.

In a chamber where lawmakers are famous for their long memories, whether that victory is real, fake or short-lived remains to be seen. But Democrats got Republicans to close up shop without a deal to confirm a slate of nominees. At a time when Democrats hold zero levers of power in Washington, that was enough for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to take multiple victory laps Saturday night.

“Donald Trump caved, and got nothing,” Schumer posted on X, ridiculing a Truth Social post from Trump about how Republicans should leave Washington and explain to their constituents “what bad people the Democrats are.”