Top House Republican Shreds Chuck Schumer: ‘A Scared Old Man Who’s Afraid of Losing His Leadership Post’

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) shredded Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), calling the top Senate Democrats “a scared old man” who’s being spooked into obstructing Republicans.

The federal government is in the midst of a shutdown that began on Wednesday after the Senate failed to pass the Republicans’ continuing resolution that would have funded the government through Nov. 21. Although the GOP controls the Senate 53-47, 60 votes are needed to overcome a procedural hurdle called cloture. Schumer is refusing to back the measure unless Republicans agree to extend healthcare premium subsidies for Obamacare recipients. Those subsidies are set to expire on Dec. 31.

Republicans have falsely claimed that the subsidies are intended to give government healthcare to unauthorized immigrants.

Emmer appeared on Saturday’s Fox News Live, where he blamed Schumer for not whipping Democratic votes for the GOP’s bill.

“This is a ridiculous shutdown,” the majority whip said. “It is caused by Chuck Schumer. He’s just a scared old man who’s afraid of losing his leadership post. And quite frankly, he’s willing to sacrifice Americans, whether it’s our working men and women, it’s our veterans, our military personnel, TSA agents, women, infants, and children on WIC. The list just goes on and on… Time for Chuck Schumer to put the American people before his own political interests, and let’s get moving again.”

Some have speculated that Schumer, who drew the ire of the Democratic base when he backed a similar Republican funding bill in March, is opposing Republicans this time around because he fears a primary challenge from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) in 2028.

Asked about the possibility this week on MSNBC, Ocasio-Cortez declined to answer.

“This is so not about me in this moment,” she said on Tuesday. “This is about people being able to insure their children.”

Watch above via Fox News.