U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) appeared on Fox News Sunday with guest anchor Gillian Turner to discuss the current government shutdown, which he attributes to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Mullin criticized Schumer’s stance on government spending and policies regarding undocumented immigrants.
Mullin referenced remarks made by Schumer in 1996, saying, “Well, this is what happens when you have a career politician in office. Keep in mind that in 1996 when he was a Congressman and I was still in high school, which was three decades ago, the career politician Chucky Schumer, went to the floor and said that we incentivize illegals coming to the United States illegally when we give them benefits. That’s exactly what they’re doing right now.”
Addressing the shutdown’s cause, Mullin stated: “It’s the illegals that he’s trying to reinstate health care for, which is what the one big, beautiful Bill cut out. Keep in mind, he’s wanting to add $1.5 trillion back into taxpayer spending for four weeks of the government to be open. And what that does is it reinstates the illegals, the 20 million illegals that the Biden administration allowed to come in illegally. And when he left office, what Biden did was a sleight of hand by basically paroling 98% of the individuals, which made them eligible for Medicaid benefits. And so what, One Big, Beautiful Bill did is cut out the waste, fraud and abuse, and that’s what Schumer is trying to reinstall. Why? Because he’s got to show his base that he’s fighting. But yet he doesn’t believe it, because he’s voted for a clean CR 13 times, and this exact CR… four other times, but now he won’t do it because he’s afraid AOC will primary him, not in 2026 but in 2028.”
On efforts by former President Trump to reduce federal spending and workforce size during his administration, Mullin said: “And so when you’re trying to shrink the size of government, which is what President Trump ran on, because he wants to get our budget under control and get people out of the federal government that’s wasting taxpayer dollars, Chuck Schumer has allowed him to do the exact same thing. And yet the craziness that you find in the Democrat Party can’t even admit that. They’re literally lying to the American people when they say they’re fighting for them, but yet they gave all the power to the executive branch to make the unilateral decisions they need to which, by the way, they should be. Underneath the Biden administration most agencies grew by over 100% so to cut 10% of the employees out is not an issue at all. We have plenty of room to be able to still be effective and efficient with all of our agencies but without having a bloated federal employee government.”
He also accused Democrats of hypocrisy regarding energy policy: “It’s interesting how short a memory Dick Durbin and the Democrats have because it wasn’t just but four years ago that the Keystone Pipeline was cut too. And by the way it went right through red states; the entire distance of it went through red streets. All the energy products for pipelines and for oil and gas infrastructure was also cut underneath the Biden administration. But they want to forget about that and not talk about what Biden administration did. They just want to talk about what Trump is doing because of their hatred towards President Trump.”
“But what we know what’s happening in this administration is—the Trump administration is working for entire economy—trying bring entire economy up making sure we’re not picking winners losers but free market makes those decisions so I support what President Trump is doing but Dick Durbin I’d say maybe you should look back three or four years ago see what Biden administration was doing before you go out call someone out on this stuff.”
Commenting on Secretary Hegseth’s recent address at a military leadership event earlier this week—a speech praised among service members—Mullin said: “Well I have lot friends get opportunity serve this great country all them said their chest was pumping with pride They love idea Pete Hegseth stood up there as they said became leader all war fighters promised…by holding generals accountable by saying look if I’m making you uncomfortable by talking about war fighters lethality making sure standards are same everyone regardless gender man woman if going have certain job certain MOS all have meet same standards.”
“If they’re talking about holding generals accountable saying ‘Look if want your soldiers fit need set example being fit yourself.’ I’ll tell you all service members loved it They loved idea you have Secretary War sitting up there putting them first rather than putting guys stars shoulders I tell you what I sent Secretary Hegseth message too after heard speech I said ‘Sir my chest pumping with pride Thank you standing up taking strong clear decisive position where Secretary War should be Department War going.’”
Senator Mullin continues updating constituents via social media platforms including X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
