President Trump on Tuesday said he was cancelling a meeting with top congressional Democrats scheduled for later this week to negotiate on government funding.
Why it matters: The two sides are locked in a staring contest, and without concessions from Trump, Democrats have insisted they will withhold their votes, an impasse that would spark the first government shutdown since 2019.
- "After reviewing the details of the unserious and ridiculous demands being made by the Minority Radical Left Democrats in return for their Votes to keep our thriving Country open, I have decided that no meeting with their Congressional Leaders could possibly be productive," Trump posted on Truth Social on Tuesday.
- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) were set to meet with Trump on Thursday.
What they're saying: "Today seems to be tantrum day for Donald Trump," Schumer said at a press conference in New York. "Mr. President: Do your job. Stop ranting. Stop these long diatribes that mean nothing to anyone."
- In an earlier statement, Schumer accused Trump of "running away from the negotiating table before he even gets there," adding, "Donald Trump will own the shutdown."
- "Trump Always Chickens Out," Jeffries posted on X. "The extremists want to shut down the government because they are unwilling to address the Republican healthcare crisis that is devastating America."
Between the lines: Trump said he was open to meeting with the Democratic leaders if they "become realistic about the things that our Country stands for."
The big picture: Lawmakers have until Oct. 1 — a little over a week— to pass a government funding extension.
- Democrats are demanding Republicans make concessions — chiefly on health care — in exchange for their votes to extend government funding.
- But so far, GOP leaders have been unwilling to negotiate with Democrats on anything other than a clean stopgap funding bill.
The bottom line: Senate Republicans need at least seven Democratic votes to pass a government funding measure.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional reporting.
