Donald Trump has called on four congressional leaders for a White House showdown ahead of a looming government shutdown next week.
With government funding slated to deplete on Tuesday, Trump has convened a meeting for Monday with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La), and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD).
‘President Trump has once again agreed to a meeting in the Oval Office,’ Schumer and Jeffries said in a statement.
“As we have consistently stated, Democrats are willing to meet anywhere, at any time, with anyone to forge a bipartisan spending agreement that aligns with the needs of the American populace. We stand firm in our commitment to avert a government shutdown and tackle the Republican healthcare crisis. The clock is ticking.”
Earlier in the week, Trump cancelled a scheduled meeting on the shutdown with Schumer and Jeffries, citing concerns it would not yield productive results, The Hill reported.
Jeffries held daily press briefings last week, voicing criticism over the cancellation of the meeting and rebuking the president for making time to participate in the Ryder Cup on Long Island.
“He couldn’t find time to meet with Democratic leaders to ensure government funding and address the Republican healthcare crisis, yet Donald Trump, as we speak, is at a golf tournament?” the lawmaker questioned.
Schumer urged Thune to arrange a meeting with the president as the impending government shutdown looms, an aide to Schumer informed the outlet.
President Donald Trump has called on four congressional leaders for a last minute meeting at the White House ahead of a looming government shutdown on Wednesday
Trump called on Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Mike Johnson (R-La) and John Thune (R-SD) for a meeting on Monday at the White House
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (pictured) slammed the president for making time to attend the Ryder Cup on Long Island after Trump cancelled a meeting to discuss the shutdown
Unless Congress takes action, once government funding runs out on Tuesday a shutdown will take place on Wednesday.
Any action from Congress to pass a spending package under chamber’s rules will need bipartisan support and requires support from at least seven Senate Democrats.
Earlier in September, Senate rejected a ‘clean’ continuing solution passed by the House from Republicans. The movement would have continued funding through until November 21.
Democrats in Congress have been asking Republicans to take action on issues such as Affordable Care Act subsidies that expire at the end of the calendar year, or rolling back Medicaid cuts signed into law by the Republican megabill earlier this year, The Hill reported.
Republicans have argued those issues are unrelated and can be solved on their own separately, while they have said other asks are unreasonable.
Trump condemned Democratic demands as ‘unserious and ridiculous,’ CNN reported.
Thune had said earlier in the week that he ‘did have a conversation with the president’ and offered his opinion on the meeting, which he declined to disclose.
‘But I think the president speaks for himself, and I think he came to the conclusion that meeting would not be productive,’ Thune added.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (pictured) said that he ‘did have a conversation with the president’ and said Trump ‘came to the conclusion that meeting would not be productive’
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (pictured) and Thune have argued against making a deal with the Democrats
Trump shakes hands with Keegan Bradley, Captain of Team United States on the first tee during the Friday afternoon four-ball matches of the 2025 Ryder Cup
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (pictured) called on Thune urging him to set up a meeting with the president as the deadline for a government shutdown fast approaches
Johnson and Thune have argued against making a deal with the Democrats. Republican leaders are looking for an extension of funding for seven weeks, with additional money for security for the legislative, executive and judicial branches.
Both parties are seemingly unwilling to back down, with Democrats confident that the blame for a shutdown would fall on Republican shoulders, while Republicans were set on showcasing the Democrat’s refusal to agree to the stopgap measure.
The House GOP planned to stay away from Washington as a show of their own unwillingness to engage Democratic alternatives. Democrats slammed House Republicans for being ‘on vacation.’
Should a government shutdown happen, it’s expected to be unlike any other with Trump and the White House Office of Management and Budget already urging agencies to cut workforce in programs that don’t align with the president’s goals.
Trump has already seen a notable government shutdown in his first term, which started in December 2018 and lasted 35 days – the longest recorded, the outlet reported.
