MSNBC host renounces Democratic Party after Schumer backs Republican bill

MSNBC host Symone Sanders-Townsend, a former adviser to Joe Biden, said during her show, The Weekend, that she would separate herself from the Democratic Party after Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., supported the Republican government funding bill. Matt Rourke/AP file

MSNBC host Symone Sanders-Townsend is abandoning the Democratic Party and changing her party registration to independent over the decision by Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to support a Republican government funding bill.

Schumer was among several Democrats who sided with a Republican-led government funding bill to avoid a government shutdown. Sanders-Townsend reviled that decision during MSNBC’s The Weekend on Saturday and said she would separate herself from the party.

“I’m a D.C. resident, and I’m p—ed,” Sanders-Townsend said. “Ok, so you know, there’s actually little that the Senate minority leader can say, and the 10 Democrats that voted with the Republicans can say, to appease somebody like me. I’m [going to] change my registration to Independent, first and foremost. Shout out to Hakeem Jeffries, though, because the congressional Democrats stayed together.”

Sanders-Townsend was national press secretary for Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign and she worked on Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign as a senior adviser. She became chief spokesperson and a senior adviser for Vice President Kamala Harris after the 2020 election before resigning in 2021 to return to broadcasting.

The outburst comes as Schumer is facing backlash from other party hardliners. The senator’s office on Monday told The New York Times he will postpone an upcoming tour for his new book, citing security concerns.

President Donald Trump praised the senator for siding with the GOP bill, saying the decision was a courageous one.

“Congratulations to Chuck Schumer for doing the right thing — Took “guts” and courage!” Trump wrote. “Again, really good and smart move by Senator Schumer. This could lead to something big for the USA, a whole new direction and beginning!”

Schumer last week said a government shutdown would prove more harmful to American than passing the Republican bill.

“I believe it is my job to make the best choice for the country to minimize the harm to the American people,” he said on the Senate floor. “Therefore, I will vote to keep the government open and not shut it down.”

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