Schumer said he has spoken several times in recent days with Mr. Trump, as the soon-to-be Senate Minority Leader said Democrats were ready to work with the new President.
"But I've also said to the President-Elect, on issues where we disagree, you can expect a strong and tough fight," Schumer added.
Other rank-and-file Democrats made clear to reporters they were not going to just roll over for the next President.
"We have no intention of being door mats," said Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware.
In a news conference just off the Senate floor, Schumer acknowledged to reporters that Democrats had fallen short last week with the voters.
"We needed a much sharper, bolder, stronger economic message," Schumer said.
"It certainly didn't go the way we Democrats hoped," Schumer added.
While Democrats set their leadership team for next year, Senate Republicans were also meeting just down the hall in the Capitol this morning, as they voted unanimously to keep Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) as Senate Majority Leader.
The 115th Congress will convene on January 3, 2017.
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