Sen. Chuck Schumer Postpones Book Tour After Facing Backlash For Supporting Stopgap Government Funding Bill

Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer postponed public events promoting his new book, Antisemitism in America: A Warning, planned for this week after he faced backlash from his party since saying he would back a Republican spending bill. His schedule this week included tour stops in Baltimore, New York City, D.C. and Philadelphia.

A spokesperson for Schumer’s book tour told ABC News that “due to security concerns, Sen. Schumer’s book events are being rescheduled.”

>MORE: SCHUMER SAYS HE’LL SUPPORT GOP SPENDING BILL

Schumer was one of nine Senate Democrats who on Friday voted for the House-approved government funding bill that averted a shutdown. With Democrats’ help, the Senate passed the stopgap bill hours before funding was set to lapse. Many Democrats, including those on the progressive wing, had hoped he would oppose the bill and take a stronger stand against the agenda of President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans.

After initially declaring he would vote against the proposed spending plan, a decision that might have triggered a government shutdown, Schumer later reversed his stance on the floor and announced he would vote in favor. The reversal garnered praise from Trump but sparked anger among leading Democrats.

“The strength of our leadership in this moment is going to demonstrate the strength of our caucus,” said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on CNN Thursday. “And I cannot urge enough how bad of an idea it is to empower and enable Donald Trump and Elon Musk in this moment. It is dangerous and it is reckless.”

Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi joined in the criticism, describing the funding bill as “a false choice between a government shutdown or an open-ended approval that severely harms the well-being of working families across the country. This false dilemma that some are accepting instead of standing up is unacceptable.”

Schumer, justifying his choice to support the funding bill, stated in a Senate floor speech on Thursday that although he disagreed with certain provisions in the bill, a government shutdown would be far more detrimental. He argued that a shutdown would grant Trump and Elon Musk—who has been responsible for significant federal budget cuts—greater influence over future reductions and that it would ultimately harm American families.

“For Donald Trump, a shutdown would be a gift. It would be the best distraction he could ask for from his awful agenda,” Schumer said.

“My job as leader is to lead the party,” Schumer said in a CNN appearance on Friday. “And if there’s going to be danger in the near future, to protect the party. And I’m proud I did it. I knew I did the right thing, and I knew there would be some disagreements. That’s how it always is.”