Congresswoman blasts Trump's wall demand as nothing more than the blackmailing of America

Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY) used the word "blackmail" three times in less than three minutes while slamming President Donald Trump for refusing to sign any of the 10 bills passed to end the government shutdown.

"Maybe President Trump does not understand people who live paycheck to paycheck or who depend on some of these feeding programs and housing programs to take care of their family," she told MSNBC's Katy Tur.

She said that she is a bipartisan legislator and believes in compromise, but it's the president who is unwilling to compromise.

"This kind of blackmail -- to have the president of the United States -- who does not understand what it is to live paycheck to paycheck, closing down the government -- its 34 days! This is the longest time I can ever remember. This is immoral and it is wrong. Open up the government then we can have some serious discussions."

"Nancy Pelosi is absolutely right," she continued. "How do you run the government with blackmail? How do you say: 'We don't care about the TSA getting paychecks or people who depend on food and shelter and the basics of life.' Open the government now then we can have serious discussions. But I would not respond to blackmail. This president does not understand I gather what it is and how people are really suffering. Maybe you should get out there and talk to some people who were worried about how they're going to feed their families."

Watch her comments below: