Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., suggested this week that Democrats could use the looming government funding deadline as leverage to force President Donald Trump to end the war in Iran, as he simultaneously launched a challenge against Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., for the position of Senate Majority Leader.
Congress must fund the government by Dec. 11 to avoid a shutdown. Asked in an MS NOW interview with Jen Psaki how he would lead differently than Schumer, Van Hollen pointed to that deadline as a point of leverage.
“I believe we need to be firm. I think that we heard loud and clear from the American people that they want to end the war in Iran and bring down prices. We shouldn’t say we’re going to wait until January when we have the power to do it on Dec. 11,” Van Hollen said. “This should not be a finger in the wind issue. This should not be sort of frittering around. This should not be a question of timidity. We need to answer the call of the American people, end the war, bring down prices, do it now. Not a penny, not a penny to fuel this war.”
Psaki asked whether Trump would effectively be “forced” to end the war because Congress could not act on its own to stop it.
“The president would be given a choice, right? Does he say to the American people that ‘I’m going to shut down the United States government? Am I going to shut down all the agencies of the U.S. government to keep the illegal war in Iran going and to keep prices high,’ when we could do it now?” Van Hollen said.
He added that Trump could instead choose to “completely ignore” what he described as the will of the American people and let the government shut down.
Schumer’s office and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
A Challenge to Schumer’s Leadership
Van Hollen announced Thursday that he would challenge Schumer for the top Senate Democratic post after Democrats retook the chamber in the 2026 midterms.
“In this election, the American people called for change. They called for a change from Donald Trump’s disastrous policies — but even bigger than that, a change from the status quo that isn’t working for working people,” Van Hollen said in a statement. “It’s now on us to meet this moment, and to do that we need new leadership. This is not about any one person – it’s about answering the call of the American people. That is why I’m running for Senate Majority Leader.”
Van Hollen, 67, has served in Congress for 23 years, first in the House and then in the Senate since 2017. Schumer, 75, has been in Congress since 1981.
Republican strategist Liz Mair, head of Mair Strategies, told Fox News Digital the shutdown approach could work tactically for Democrats, but questioned the political fallout.
“If you do want to force the Pentagon’s hand, this is the easiest way to do it, legislatively, right? I think the question is how much reputational downside is there for Democrats?” Mair said, adding: “Progressives seem to put in quite a lot of confidence in Chris Van Hollen as a prospective leader. And I just wonder whether that’s wise on their part.”
Growing Revolt Against Schumer
Van Hollen’s bid comes amid signs of deepening discontent with Schumer within his own caucus. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., a longtime ally, and Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., a newer member, both said this week they would not support Schumer for leader.
Senators-elect Adam Hamilton of Kansas, Peggy Flanagan and Abdul El-Sayed have also publicly said they will not back the longtime New York senator for the post.
Asked what he would prioritize in his first 100 days as leader, Van Hollen said he would focus on restoring Medicaid funding, extending the Affordable Care Act’s tax credits, and restoring food and nutrition programs. He also criticized Schumer for backing moderate candidates in Democratic primaries.
