Swalwell: 'Donald Trump Does Not Believe that a Congress Should Even Exist'
During an appearance on MS NOW's 'The Weekend,' Rep. Eric Swalwell criticized President Donald Trump's disregard for Congress, asserting that Trump views it as unnecessary. He referenced a Washington Post report highlighting the legislative stagnation in 2025, with the House and Senate achieving the lowest outputs in modern history, including a record low of 362 votes cast. Swalwell noted his contribution to one of the few bipartisan bills passed, aimed at assisting breastfeeding mothers at airports. He expressed a willingness for collaboration with Republicans to address rising costs ahead of the midterm elections, warning that failure to do so could lead to negative repercussions for them in the future.
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As of December 2025, Congress had signed fewer than 40 bills into law, indicating a significant drop in legislative activity compared to previous years, including 2017 when Trump first took office.
The House set a record for the fewest votes cast in a single session of Congress this century, with only 362 votes, marking a substantial decline in legislative engagement.
Swalwell highlighted that Trump's impeachment was partly due to his refusal to comply with Congressional subpoenas, emphasizing Trump's long-standing opposition to Congressional authority.
He mentioned that he was responsible for one of the 40 bills passed, which aimed to facilitate easier travel for breastfeeding mothers by exempting their milk from screening.
Looking forward to the New Year, Swalwell urged Republicans to join Democrats in efforts to mitigate costs for consumers, framing it as a crucial issue for upcoming midterm elections.
Swalwell's comments suggest a broader concern among Democrats regarding the implications of legislative inactivity on public sentiment leading into future elections.