Watch the full speech HERE.

October 28, 2025 - WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senate Republicans blocked Senator Jacky Rosen’s (D-NV) attempt to pass her resolution condemning President Trump’s plan to pay himself $230 million of taxpayer dollars. During a government shutdown caused by Donald Trump and Washington Republicans, Trump is seeking to pad his own pockets with funding that could go to critical programs like SNAP — all while families are worrying about paying their bills, putting food on the table, and wondering if they’ll be able to afford their health insurance next year.

Below is a transcript of Senator Rosen’s remarks:

Nevadans work hard for their money, really hard. Especially right now, when they’re being squeezed by rising costs as a result of Trump’s chaos and his reckless economic policies. 

Nevadans pay taxes with the expectation that the federal government is going to work for them and provide critical services when they need it. 

Services that are shamefully being disrupted by the Republican government shutdown.

Instead, their tax-payer dollars are being wasted on gold-plated dinners at the White House, two, count ‘em, two private jets for Kristi Noem, and – unbelievably – a potential multi-million dollar illegal payment to Donald Trump. 

You heard that right. 

In the middle of a government shutdown that he caused because he refuses to take action to prevent a spike in health care costs, Donald Trump is seeking $230 million in payment from the Department of Justice for who? Well, for himself. 

He is going to use your money to pad his own pockets instead of working with Democrats to take action to make sure you and your family can go to the doctor without breaking the bank.

Trump has even acknowledged that, “it’s awfully strange to make a decision where I’m paying myself.” 

And I’ll go a step further, Mr. President. It’s not just “strange,” it’s outrageous.

$230 million, all while families are worrying about paying their bills, putting food on the table, and wondering if they’ll be able to afford their health insurance next year.

Instead of paying himself, why doesn’t Trump put that money towards SNAP benefits, since his Administration has decided to renege on its promise to provide the funding to prevent Americans from going hungry? The president has the power to do this.

Today, I’m introducing  a resolution condemning Donald Trump’s decision to pay and enrich himself with your tax dollars. You got that right. He’s going to pay to enrich himself, nearly a quarter of a million dollars from Donald Trump to Donald Trump, off the backs of the American taxpayer.

And if my Republican colleagues, who like to stand up here and talk about cutting wasteful spending, want to practice what they preach, they’ll support my resolution.

They’ll stand up to Donald Trump and say finally, with the gold-plated dinners and the ballrooms, enough is enough, and it’s time to put the American people first. 

Let’s show the American people that at least this chamber still knows the difference between serving the public and serving yourself.

Let’s pass my resolution right now.

Source: Senator Jacky Rosen