Trump has donated more to Chuck Schumer than to any other senator

New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, the incoming Senate minority leader, will soon be the highest-ranking Democrat to go toe-to-toe with President-elect Donald Trump. Ironically, it is Schumer who has received more donations from the billionaire businessman than any of his fellow senators.

From 1996, when Schumer was running for a seat in the House of Representatives, to 2010, Trump donated $9,000 directly to the Manhattan lawmaker's campaigns, Business Insider pointed out Thursday, citing Federal Election Commission filings.

In addition, the president-elect's children, Ivanka, Eric and Donald Jr., have donated a combined $6,800 to Schumer, and Ivanka's husband, Jared Kushner, who is reportedly vying for top security clearance in the Trump White House, has donated $4,000 to the liberal New Yorker.

Trump has hardly shied away from the fact that, over the course of his career in real estate, he has heavily favored Democrats when it comes to financial contributions. In an interview last year with Fox News commentator Sean Hannity, Trump implied it would be a waste to donate to Republicans in New York because "everyone is Democratic" in the Empire State.

"So, what am I going to do, contribute to Republicans? Am I going to contribute to — I mean, one thing, I’m not stupid — am I going to contribute to a Republican for my whole life when they get, they run against some Democrat and the most they can get is 1 percent of the vote?" Trump asked.

"I mean, I’ve contributed to Schumer, I contribute — I’ve known Schumer for many, many years," he continued. "And I have a good relationship with him. The fact is that I think it is time maybe that we all do get along."

Since the president-elect's surprise political upset on Nov. 8, Schumer has spoken with Trump "a couple of times."

"When we can agree on issues, then we're going to work with them," Schumer said Thursday, a day after being elected minority leader. "But I've also said to the president-elect, on issues where we disagree, you can expect a strong and tough fight."

Vice President-elect Mike Pence met with Schumer, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) on Thursday to discuss ways that the incoming Trump administration can work with Congress.