Trump stalks out of shutdown talks with Dems, says ‘bye-bye’

WASHINGTON— U.S. President Donald Trump walked out of his negotiating meeting with congressional leaders Wednesday —“I said bye-bye,” he tweeted — as efforts to end the 19-day partial government shutdown fell into deeper disarray over his demand for billions to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.

In a negotiating session that was over almost as soon as it began, Democrats went to the White House asking Trump to reopen the government. Trump renewed his call for money for his signature campaign promise and was rebuffed. Republicans and Democrats had differing accounts of the brief exchange, but the result was clear: The partial shutdown continued with no end in sight.

Hundreds of thousands of federal workers will miss paychecks on Friday. Other key federal services are suspended.

Trump revived his threat to attempt to override Congress by declaring a national emergency to unleash defence department funding for the wall. He’s due to visit the border today to highlight what he declared in an Oval Office speech Tuesday night as a “crisis.” Democrats say Trump is manufacturing the emergency to justify a political ploy.

That debate set the tone for Wednesday’s sit-down.

Republicans said Trump posed a direct question to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: If he opened the government, would she fund the wall? She said no. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said Trump slammed his hand on the table, said “then we have nothing to discuss” and walked out.

Republicans said Trump, who passed out candy at the start of the meeting, did not raise his voice and there was no table pounding. Pelosi said Trump “stomped” out of the room and was “petulant.” Republicans said he was merely firm.