Schumer knocks Trump over terror attack: 'Where is your leadership?'

Senate Minority Leader Charles SchumerCharles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerAn end game on Supreme Court nominations Liberals forget Constitution as Supreme Court battle fires up Anti-Trump protesters sing national anthem outside rally MORE (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday doubled down on his criticism of President Trump in the wake of a terrorist attack in New York City.

"President Trump where is your leadership? The contrast between President Bush's actions after 9/11 and President Trump's actions this morning could not be starker," Schumer said from the Senate floor.

Schumer contrasted Trump's tweets with President George W. Bush's response after the 9/11 attacks, noting Bush invited Schumer and then-Sen. Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonTrump tweets video montage of people saying he couldn't win presidency Baseless attacks on Robert Mueller must end to protect our democracy Ex-NATO commander: Trump right to demand NATO members pay more for defense MORE (D) to the White House.

"In a moment of national tragedy, President Bush understood the meaning of his high office. ... President Trump instead of politicizing and dividing America ... should be bringing us together and focusing on the real solution: anti-terrorism funding," Schumer said.

The White House's proposed budget cut anti-terrorism grant funding. Schumer said on Wednesday that he wants Trump to rescind the proposed cuts.

Trump ripped the Senate's top Democrat in an early morning tweet over an immigration program that allowed the suspect in the attack, Sayfullo Saipov, to enter the United States. Eight people were killed on Tuesday when Saipov plowed a truck into bicyclists and pedestrians in lower Manhattan. Saipov was shot by police and is currently in custody.

The terrorist came into our country through what is called the "Diversity Visa Lottery Program," a Chuck SchumerCharles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerAn end game on Supreme Court nominations Liberals forget Constitution as Supreme Court battle fires up Anti-Trump protesters sing national anthem outside rally MORE beauty. I want merit based.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

Schumer immediately fired back on Twitter, saying: "I guess it's not too soon to politicize a tragedy."

Sen. Jeff FlakeJeffrey (Jeff) Lane FlakeAn end game on Supreme Court nominations Flake: ‘There is concern across Europe’ about what Trump might promise Putin Sunday shows preview: Washington braces for Trump's Supreme Court pick MORE (R-Ariz.) also defended Schumer, noting that their 2013 immigration bill nixed the Diversity Visa Program.

Actually, the Gang of 8, including @SenSchumer, did away with the Diversity Visa Program as part of broader reforms. I know, I was there https://t.co/QQFJzPyRzC

— Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) November 1, 2017

Schumer said from the Senate floor that Tuesday's attack resonated personally with him as a New Yorker and that he had taken the bike path twice in the past month.

"My daughter went to the school near the scene ... and she used the bike path I don't know how many times. This is our territory, our home," he said.