California Senator Adam Schiff, known for his outspoken criticism of Donald Trump during his previous presidency, has seemingly adopted a more conciliatory tone as Trump prepares to return to the White House. Schiff, a Democrat who recently won the election to fill the late Senator Dianne Feinstein’s seat, emphasized the importance of bipartisan collaboration in an interview with NBC San Diego.
Schiff acknowledged the shift in responsibility as he transitions from representing a district of 750,000 people to the entire state of California’s 40 million residents. “In order to get things done, you really have to work with people across the aisle, so there’s a lot of incentive to find good partners,” Schiff said.
A New Approach to Bipartisanship
The senator’s remarks marked a significant departure from his previous stance toward Trump and the Republican Party. Schiff, who played a central role in investigating Trump during his presidency, now appears to prioritize finding common ground on critical issues such as housing, healthcare, and the economy.
“Because housing is more and more scarce, and we have a population that’s growing, people are left homeless, or people can’t afford to buy a home, or people can’t afford their rent anymore,” Schiff stated. “There are things that we can do about this, and a lot of them are bipartisan.” He also mentioned healthcare and inflation as areas where Democrats and Republicans could work together to achieve meaningful progress.
However, Schiff was quick to note that his willingness to collaborate would not come at the expense of holding Trump accountable. “There are times I’m going to have to stand up to the president and push back. Californians are going to expect that of me. I’m going to have to try to do both at the same time. I’m sure that will prove to be challenging,” Schiff explained.
A History of Tension with Trump
Schiff’s newfound call for bipartisanship follows years of acrimony between the senator and the former president. Schiff has been a prominent figure in investigating Trump’s alleged ties to Russia, a role that culminated in his censure by the House of Representatives in 2023.
During a recent appearance on CNN’s State of the Union, Schiff defended his actions, including his claims of collusion between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia. Host Jake Tapper pressed Schiff on whether he felt introspective about his previous statements, given the conclusions of the Mueller report and the criticisms from his Republican colleagues.
Schiff maintained his position, stating, “There is evidence of collusion. The Trump campaign manager was meeting with Russian intelligence and giving them internal polling data, just to give you one example.”
When Tapper noted that the Mueller report concluded there was no proof of conspiracy or coordination between Trump’s campaign and the Russian government, Schiff countered, “The fact that we didn’t find proof beyond a reasonable doubt doesn’t mean there wasn’t evidence of conspiracy or coordination.”
The Fallout from the Steele Dossier
Schiff’s allegations were largely based on the controversial Steele dossier, which claimed that Russia had compromising information on Trump and alleged collusion between Trump’s campaign and the Kremlin. However, the credibility of the dossier has since been undermined.
In 2021, Special Counsel John Durham accused Russian analyst Ivan Danchenko, a key source for the dossier, of lying to the FBI. This revelation further discredited the document and added to Republican criticism of Schiff’s handling of the investigation.
Despite these controversies, Schiff has expressed a willingness to move forward with a focus on bipartisan solutions. Whether this shift in tone will translate into effective collaboration with the Trump administration remains to be seen.
A Balancing Act for the Future
As Schiff begins his six-year term representing California in the Senate, he faces the challenge of navigating a polarized political landscape. While his calls for bipartisanship may signal a willingness to adapt, his past actions and statements have left him as a divisive figure in American politics.
Schiff’s ability to balance accountability with cooperation will likely define his tenure in the Senate, especially as he seeks to address pressing issues such as housing, healthcare, and economic inequality in collaboration with a Republican-controlled White House.