Senator Adam Schiff has escalated a long-running battle between the two men by claiming that Donald Trump is afraid after provoking the bear with his most recent attacks. The comments were delivered in a message to supporters by Schiff, a Democrat from California who was instrumental in Trump’s initial impeachment trial and then served on the January 6th Committee. In the letter, he defended Trump’s frequent taunts of him as a mark of respect and pledged to continue resisting what he called assaults on American democracy.
Schiff added, “Unless you’re in the MAGA world, you might recognize me from Trump’s frequent attacks and derogatory remarks like sleazebag, traitor, or more recently, one of the true lowlifes in the history of American politics.” A real honorific. His remarks are the most recent shot in a conflict that began with the first inquiries into Trump’s administration and grew more intense throughout the impeachment process.
Trump’s latest actions, according to Schiff, are motivated by his fear of losing political support. The senator claims that Trump’s participation in Texas redistricting disputes demonstrates his concern about the Republican Party’s capacity to hold onto its tiny majority in the House of Representatives in the upcoming midterm elections. Schiff claimed that Trump has adopted changing the political landscape rather than changing policy because he is afraid of losing his majority in the midterm elections.
He cited controversial policies that Trump is unwilling to renounce, including tariffs, immigration raids, and the so-called Big Ugly Bill. Schiff asserted that the plan is to exert pressure on Texas Republican authorities to alter congressional boundaries in a way that gives the GOP the upper hand. Schiff described the proposal as an obvious indication of desperation and stated that it was to demand that Republicans in Texas change their congressional districts.
The senator also charged that Trump has shifted his attacks from political opponents to the core tenets of the democratic system. He cautioned that the president’s actions were a direct threat to electoral justice rather than merely another political ploy. “Trump is at it again,” he said. But this time, he’s attacking not just me but our democracy as a whole.
Therefore, to clarify:
Trump and Putin met.
Putin questioned if mail-in ballots were legitimate.
Trump now wants to stop voting by mail.
Trump is behaving like Putin’s puppet once more.image.twitter.com/zVMpoXOiKA and
August 18, 2025 Adam Schiff (@AdamSchiff)
Leaders in California are getting ready to respond. Schiff commended Governor Gavin Newsom for proposing the California Election Rigging Response Act, a bill that would prevent Texas from implementing redistricting in a way that would compromise equitable representation. The senator clarified that California voters would have the power to override Texas politicians’ efforts to shift the balance of power in Congress if the bill were to succeed.
What Schiff believes is at stake in the next vote was made apparent. Anything Texas does will be void if we prevail. He warned that the vote might have serious repercussions for California and the entire country, writing, “If we lose, then Trump may very well have two more years of unchecked power.” Schiff aimed to mobilize supporters by portraying Trump as increasingly vulnerable and presenting the battle as a defense of democracy itself.
According to the senator, the president’s approach shows that he is fearful of losing ground rather than being a confident leader. In his message, Schiff said, “Donald Trump has poked the bear.” It’s time to defend yourself.
Ahead of the upcoming election cycle, the impasse lays the groundwork for what may turn out to be yet another pivotal conflict in the larger conflict between Trump and his detractors. State-level reactions, like California’s planned bill, might be crucial in determining the political landscape as redistricting battles heat up. Trump’s actions indicate that he is still committed to influencing the course of the Republican Party, while Schiff’s remarks demonstrate that Democrats are bracing for a long battle.
