Trump cancels meeting with Democratic leaders on government shutdown

Donald Trump called off a meeting Tuesday with top Democrats in Congress to discuss passage of a spending bill to avoid a government shutdown.

The president himself reported the cancellation on social media, assuring that "no meeting [...] could possibly be productive." A conclusion he had reached, he assured, "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."

Trump was to meet with Chuck Schumer, Senate minority leader, and Hakeem Jeffries, House minority leader. The meeting was to take place this Thursday, days before the Oct. 1 deadline for an extension on government funding.

Trump argued that in exchange for their votes, the Blues are asking for $1 trillion in new spending. "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," he wrote on Truth Social.

He further claimed that they had not understood the result of the election and was open to coordinating another meeting, but only "if they get serious about the future of our Nation."

Jeffries was quick to respond, "Trump Always Chickens Out." "The extremists want to shut down the government because they are unwilling to address the Republican healthcare crisis that is devastating America," he asserted on X.

Although more terse, Schumer followed suit on the same social network: "Happy New Year, Mr. President. When you’re finished ranting, we can sit down and discuss health care."