Trump canceled a meeting with Democratic leaders to prevent a government shutdown
President Trump canceled a meeting with Democratic leaders in Congress to negotiate funding to prevent a government shutdown
President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he has canceled a meeting with top Democratic leaders in Congress that was scheduled for later this week to negotiate a federal budget solution that would prevent a government shutdown on October 1.
The goal of the meeting was to reach a temporary budget agreement, known as joint resolution, guaranteeing government funding for a short period of time.
“After reviewing the details of the ridiculous and unserious demands being made by the Radical Left Minority Democrats in exchange for their votes to keep our thriving country open, I have decided that no meeting with your Congressional leaders could be productive,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform Tuesday morning.
Trump’s announcement came shortly after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced they planned to meet with the president this week in the Oval Office to negotiate their proposals.
Lawmakers in Congress are on recess this week with no path forward after the Senate rejected both a seven-week government funding measure passed by the House of Representatives and a Democratic alternative.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement Tuesday after Donald Trump cancels bipartisan meeting with Democratic leadership: “Trump is walking away from the negotiating table before he even arrives. As Americans face rising costs and a Republican health care crisis, Trump would rather throw a tantrum than do his job. Democrats are ready to work to avoid a government shutdown; Trump and the Republicans are holding America hostage. Donald Trump will take responsibility for the shutdown.”
Jeffries invoked a phrase in X that irritates the president: “Trump always chickens out.”
Jeffries also told House members they should return to Washington on Monday, even though Republican leaders canceled the votes, on the eve of a funding deadline.
Lawmakers have until October 1, a little more than a week, to pass a measure to extend the federal budget.
Democrats are demanding concessions from Republicans, mainly on health care, specifically asking to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits that expire in December. in exchange for their votes to extend government funding.
Republican leaders have been unwilling to negotiate with Democrats and are sticking with their stopgap funding bill.
Senate Republicans need at least seven Democratic votes to pass a government funding measure and avoid a government shutdown.