Chuck Schumer blasted for invoking ancestors' deaths by Nazis while urging Johnson to pass foreign aid bill

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Chuck Schumer sparked outrage after he invoked the memory of his Jewish ancestors who perished during World War II while urging House Speaker Mike Johnson to advance a $95 billion foreign aid bill, which includes crucial assistance for Ukraine.

The Senate Majority Leader delivered the dramatic plea during a press conference from New York on Sunday, February 25. Highlighting the dangers of turning a blind eye to international crises, Schumer cautioned against adopting an "isolationist" stance reminiscent of past failures.

Chuck Schumer cautions House Speaker Mike Johnson against 'sucking up to dictators'

During the press conference, Schumer noted, "There are those in the House — these far-right people — who are isolationists. They said, 'This is far away, we don’t have to bother.'"

He continued, "That’s what the world said in 1938 with Hitler, and America paid the price — hundreds of thousands of deaths, billions of dollars spent. That’s what people said in 1916 here in the US, and a prolonged World War I then cost us dearly, leading to World War II. So, these isolationists have not learned the lesson of history."

Drawing on personal history, Schumer recounted the harrowing fate of his ancestors in Chortkiv, Galicia, a city in western Ukraine ravaged by Nazi atrocities. He vividly described the tragic demise of his grandmother and 34 other family members at the hands of Nazi forces.

He recalled, "In 1941, the Nazis came in, they told my grandmother, who was well known in the town of Chortkiv, to gather her family on the porch. Thirty-five members gathered from ages in the 80s to 3 months old. The Nazis said, 'You’re coming with us.' She said, 'We’re not moving,' and they machine-gunned every one of them dead."

"That’s what happens when you try to suck up to dictators. You can't. Johnson has to learn that lesson," asserted the politician.

Schumer's plea comes on the heels of his recent trip to Ukraine, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelensky as part of a congressional delegation.

The $95 billion emergency defense spending bill, passed by the Senate earlier in February, includes assistance for Ukraine's defense efforts, support for Israel's defense against Hamas, and humanitarian aid for Gaza and Indo-Pacific allies.

However, the fate of the aid package hangs in the balance as it awaits action in the House. Speaker Johnson's reluctance to bring the bill to the floor, citing the absence of border security measures demanded by House GOP members, has raised concerns about further delays. 

"The mandate of national security supplemental legislation was to secure America’s own border before sending additional foreign aid around the world. It is what the American people demand and deserve," declared Johnson. 

Despite bipartisan support for the bill, political divisions threaten to hinder its passage, leaving Ukraine vulnerable amid escalating tensions, as reported by CNN.

Schumer highlighted the need for decisive action, saying, "He is so afraid of the radical right, the hard right in his caucus — it’s only about 20 or 30 members — that he has not done it. We are telling Speaker Johnson: History’s eyes are upon you. The history of the West is on your back. Do not abandon things. And do not do things for political expediency."

"Do not show blind obedience to Donald Trump, who’s a pal of Putin," added the Senate Majority Leader, urging Speaker Johnson to prioritize national security over partisan politics.

Internet rebukes Chuck Schumer's move of invoking ancestors affected by Nazis

Schumer faced criticism for invoking his ancestors' deaths to help put the $95 billion aid bill on the House floor. 

One noted, "He's getting desperate. SMH," and another fumed, "How DARE he exploit the memory of holocaust victims for his corrupt political priorities. THIS IS APPALLING."

A person demanded, "I wouldn’t give one dollar until the border is closed," while someone else added, "Kinda tired of seeing this card played to be honest."

An individual wrote, "Time for Schumer to step down…"

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