President Trump on Tuesday canceled a meeting with Democratic congressional leaders aimed at preventing a government shutdown, saying their demands were ridiculous and that no meeting could be productive.
The decision, unless it is reversed, means Trump will not meet with Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) on Thursday, and greatly increases the chance of a shutdown on Oct. 1.
“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.
He then outlined a litany of policies he says Democrats are backing that aren’t popular with the general public, and thus helped him get elected.
“I look forward to meeting with them if they get serious about the future of our Nation. We must keep the Government open, and legislate like true Patriots rather than hold American Citizens hostage, knowing that they want our now thriving Country closed. I’ll be happy to meet with them if they agree to the Principles in this Letter,” Trump continued.
Democrats blasted Trump’s decision, arguing he would be to blame if the government did shut down on Oct. 1.
“Trump Always Chickens Out. Donald Trump just cancelled a high stakes meeting in the Oval Office with myself and Leader Schumer,” 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.”
Schumer, for his part, mocked Trump in his own social media post as “running away from the negotiating table.”
Trump had planned to meet with Schumer and Jeffries on Thursday at the White House. But in his lengthy post, Trump suggested demands from Democrats to keep the government open were unworkable and more broadly railed against the party’s agenda.
“The Democrats in Congress seem to have totally lost their way. They obviously have no idea what it means to put America First or to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump posted. “All Congressional Democrats want to do is enact Radical Left Policies that nobody voted for — High Taxes, Open Borders, No Consequences for Violent Criminals, Men in Women’s Sports, Taxpayer funded ‘TRANSGENDER’ surgery, and much more.
“To the Leaders of the Democrat Party, the ball is in your court,” Trump added. “I look forward to meeting with you when you become realistic about the things that our Country stands for. DO THE RIGHT THING!”
The House has approved a government-funding bill that will for seven weeks starting on Oct. 1, but it must be approved by the Senate to reach Trump’s desk.
While Republicans hold the majority in the Senate, they do not have the 60 votes necessary to clear Democratic hurdles.
Trump’s decision to push off a meeting with Democrats could point to his confidence that the minority party will get the blame if there is a shutdown.
Trump and the GOP have received the blame before, but they argue it is Democrats that are making demands in this case that jeopardize a funding bill.
Democratic leaders have demanded Republicans address the expiration of Affordable Care Act premium subsidies before the end of October and to restore nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid funding that was cut under the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act.
Democrats also want to unfreeze funds that have been targeted for rescission by Trump’s budget director, Russell Vought, including the $5 billion in foreign aid the White House is trying to claw back with a pocket rescission.
Schumer and Jeffries have said Republicans would bear responsibility for a shutdown because they have refused to negotiate with Democrats.
“After weeks of Republican stonewalling in Congress, President Trump has agreed to meet this week in the Oval Office,” the two said in a statement Monday. “In the meeting, we will emphasize the importance of addressing rising costs, including the Republican healthcare crisis. It’s past time to meet and work to avoid a Republican-caused shutdown.”
Updated at 2:30 p.m. EDT
