Elizabeth Warren Scoffs at CNBC Host’s Question About GOP ‘Pushback’ Against Trump: ‘These Guys… Need Spine Transplants’
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) was incredulous at a CNBC host’s question about congressional Republicans potentially seeking to check President Donald Trump.
On Monday, Trump said he had fired Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, although it is unclear whether the president has that authority. Cook has said she will not step aside. Trump claimed he was terminating Cook “for cause,” and cited an allegation from his Federal Housing Finance Agency chief, Bill Pulte. Pulte accused Cook of claiming on mortgage applications for two different properties that each was her primary residence, supposedly to receive more favorable loan terms. Cook has not been charged with a crime.
Warren appeared on Wednesday’s Squawk on the Street on CNBC, where she slammed Trump for trying to meddle in the affairs of the Federal Reserve. The president has repeatedly called on Fed Chair Jerome Powell to lower interest rates, which Powell has so far resisted.
“Senator Warren, I mean, the principles of Fed independence has been one of pretty broad agreement over the decades,” Squawk co-host Mike Santoli said. “Are you hearing from your Republican colleagues at all, concerns that are similar to yours? And do you think that would build toward anything like actual public pushback on this?”
Warren seemed almost mystified by the question:
Pushback? From the Republicans in Congress? I mean, what do you think it’s gonna take? These guys are gonna need spine transplants to be able to say anything to Donald Trump. They’ve gone along with letting Donald Trump set tariff policy even though it is clear that he is in violation of the law. I haven’t heard anybody speak out about his plans to invade American cities with armed forces, with the National Guard.
Look, right now, the Republicans that I talk with in the United States Senate, they just say whatever Donald Trump wants is ok by them. They have forfeited the idea of checks and balances that our Constitution put in place. And they don’t seem inclined to hold Donald Trump accountable, and his administration accountable for just plain old basic follow the law. You know, like when Congress says, “Here’s the money we wanna spend on these projects, Donald Trump is supposed, to the administration is supposed to spend that money. They don’t spend it. And so far, the republicans in Congress do nothing.
So, don’t ask me to predict when the Republicans will finally grow a spine and say, “We’re not putting up with any more of this. Donald Trump cannot tank our economy by undermining the independence of the Fed.”
I’d like to see ’em do it, but I’m still waiting.
Watch above via CNBC.
