Claim:
In December 2025, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said, “Go Bills,” referring to the Buffalo, New York, NFL team, before addressing deadly shootings in Sydney, Australia, and at Brown University.
Rating:
Context
Although Snopes could not locate footage of the full news conference, we found no evidence that a video clip of Schumer’s remarks was edited. During the same event, Schumer spoke in greater detail about the shootings in Australia and at Brown University.
In December 2025, a video clip circulated on social media (archived here, here and here) suggesting that U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said, “Go Bills,” referring to the Buffalo, New York, NFL team, before addressing deadly shootings in Sydney, Australia, and at Brown University.
The shootings happened over the same weekend. A gunman killed two people and wounded nine others at Brown on Dec. 13. The Dec. 14 mass shooting during a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach left 15 people dead.
The clip circulating online appeared to show Schumer saying: “Of course, I’m going to say a few words about the terrible shooting in Sydney, Australia. So and first, of course, as I always say, no matter what, go Bills! They beat the Patriots today. It’s a big deal.”
Chuck Schumer: “Of course, I’m going to say a few words about the terrible shooting in Australia, okay? So, and first, of course, as I always say, no matter what, go Bills! They beat the Patriots today. It’s a big deal.” 😐pic.twitter.com/1gaV35HCjD
— Wall Street Mav (@WallStreetMav) December 15, 2025
Conservative podcaster Alec Lace described the comment as “tone deaf” in a post on X (archived), while Republican U.S. Rep Mike Lawler of New York called for Schumer to “retire immediately” in response to the video clip (archived).
Several Snopes readers also emailed us and searched our website to verify whether Schumer actually made the remark.
The clip appeared to originate from a YouTube video shared by LiveNOW from Fox (archived). In it, Schumer begins a Dec. 14 news conference by saying he would discuss what he described as “Instacart ripping off the consumer” and then address the “terrible shooting in Sydney, Australia.” After that, he included the “go Bills” comment:
So first, I’m going to of course talk about Instacart and their ripping off the consumer. And then of course, I’m going to say a few words about the terrible shooting in Sydney, Australia. OK? So and first, of course, as I always say, no matter what, go Bills. They beat the Patriots today. It’s a big deal.
Schumer then went on to speak about Instacart’s alleged use of artificial intelligence to charge different shoppers varying prices for the same grocery items.
Although Snopes could not locate footage of the full news conference, we found no evidence that the video clip was manipulated. Therefore, we’ve rated the statement as correctly attributed to Schumer.
We asked a Fox spokesperson to confirm that the YouTube video was unedited and to request footage of the full event. This story will be updated if we receive a response.
We also reached out to Schumer’s office to verify the remark and to request comment on the criticism of its timing but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
Schumer addresses shootings
In a separate LiveNOW from Fox video (archived) from the same event, Schumer addressed the shootings in Australia and at Brown University in more detail, calling attention to the dangers of antisemitism and the need for gun reform. He said, in part:
As I have warned repeatedly, antisemitism is a scourge around the world. It’s everywhere and it’s got to be condemned loudly and fought vigorously at every turn. The Jewish people have been collectively demonized, and this tragedy in Sydney shows the abject danger of letting antisemitic propaganda, rhetoric and action go unchecked.
Schumer also acknowledged that the Australia shooting came on the heels of the attack at Brown, adding that “our hearts are really heavy this morning.”
He called the events “sickening” and said they have “become far too normal in our world,” and urged that “we must do more to stop gun violence, including congressional action on gun safety and reform.”
Trump’s comments on Brown shooting
U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments following the Brown University shooting also drew criticism online. During a Christmas reception at the White House on Dec. 14, he said “things can happen” in reference to the tragedy.
His comments were as follows (emphasis ours):
And Brown University — great school. Great s- — great, really one of the greatest schools anywhere in the world. Things can happen. So to the nine injured, get well fast. And to the families of those two who are no longer with us, I pay my deepest regards and respects from the United States of America. Thank you very much. It’s a very important thing to say. And we mean it.
Videos of Trump’s remarks were available on the White House website (archived) and C-SPAN.
Snopes reporter Emery Winter contributed to this report.
