California Sen. Adam Schiff (D) wasted little time making political statements after the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk.
In a floor speech, Schiff shifted from government funding negotiations to blasting Republicans while invoking what he called a “road to dictatorship.”
“So, in 19 days, the government funding runs out,” Schiff said. He accused Republicans of “withholding in violation of law” and claimed they were “unilaterally cutting” funds that had already been agreed upon.
He added that millions of Americans could lose access to healthcare. Schiff said cuts would come from the VA, the NIH, and the CDC, while also alleging that vaccines would be harder to get under GOP policies.
“But most significantly, in their big ugly bill, they made trillion dollars of cuts to Medicaid,” Schiff said. He also claimed Republicans “eliminated tax credits people need to get health care under the Affordable Care Act.”
By his estimates, Americans on the exchanges could see “premiums go up by 75%.” Schiff said hospitals were already closing as a result.
He then turned his attention to President Trump, accusing the administration of abuses of power, as the Conservative Brief reported.
“This is the road to dictatorship,” Schiff declared. He said the Trump administration was using its “coercive power to cripple universities,” “silence the media,” and “extort payments” from outlets seeking mergers.
Schiff also attacked tariffs, claiming companies were being forced to “give a share of their profits to the federal government” or face penalties. He said this was “unprecedented.”
The senator then tied the issue back to the ongoing spending fight. “You want my vote for a funding bill?” Schiff asked. “You’re gonna have to agree to restore health care for people that are going to be losing it by millions.”
Schiff demanded lower healthcare costs and an end to what he called “lawless, corrupt purposes” by the federal government.
His remarks came just hours after Charlie Kirk was killed in Utah, an event that shocked conservatives across the country. Critics accused Schiff of seizing on the moment to advance his political agenda instead of offering condolences.
On X, commentator Jeremy Redfern slammed the California senator over his comments.
“In this video, California Senator Adam Schiff says that ‘our country is headed down a road to dictatorship.’ If you believe the left wants to turn down the rhetoric and stop political violence, you’re living in a fantasy world,” Redfern said.
Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of assassinating Kirk, had reportedly become “more political” in recent years.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) revealed that Robinson reached out to a family friend before authorities were contacted. Cox said Robinson’s family admitted he spoke negatively about Kirk before the shooting.
According to investigators, Robinson told relatives he disliked Kirk because he viewed him as “full of hate and spreading hate.”
President Trump and Gov. Cox have both said prosecutors should pursue the death penalty in Robinson’s case.
