After President Donald Trump
President’s doubt on a deal prompts Schumer, Pelosi to skip meeting
uses Twitter to attack Democratic lawmakers, Congress' top Democratic leaders abruptly pulled out of a planned meeting with Trump that they called a meaningless photo-op.
WASHINGTON — Congress’ top Democrats abruptly pulled out of a planned meeting with President Donald Trump on Tuesday after he declared via Twitter that he didn’t “see a deal” ahead with them on taxes and federal spending, casting doubt on prospects for averting a government shutdown at the end of next week.
On Twitter just hours before the scheduled meeting at the White House, Trump also accused Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California of being soft on crime, taxes and illegal immigration.
Schumer and Pelosi rebuffed Trump’s invitation and asked instead for immediate talks at the Capitol with top Republican leaders in Congress.
“Given that the president doesn’t see a deal between Democrats and the White House, we believe the best path forward is to continue negotiating with our Republican counterparts in Congress instead,” Schumer and Pelosi said in a statement. “Rather than going to the White House for a show meeting that won’t result in an agreement, we’ve asked Leader McConnell and Speaker Ryan to meet this afternoon.”
That invitation was swiftly rejected by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin.
Trump met at the White House with Ryan and McConnell where he and the Republican leaders criticized the absent Democrats, with Trump vowing to “absolutely blame the Democrats” if there’s a government shutdown. Republicans control the White House and Congress.
On a shutdown, Trump said, “If it happens it’s going to be over illegals pouring into the country, crime pouring into the country, no border wall, which everyone wants.”
Two empty chairs were on either side of the president, with the names of Schumer and Pelosi.
He also said North Korea’s launch of a ballistic missile on Wednesday should prompt Democrats to renew negotiations over the spending legislation, which includes Pentagon funding.
“But probably they won’t because nothing to them is important other than raising taxes,” Trump said.
In a tweet Tuesday, Pelosi said Trump’s “verbal abuse will no longer be tolerated,” adding in reference to the empty chairs, “Poor Ryan and McConnell relegated to props. Sad!”
Congress faces a Dec. 8 deadline to pass stopgap legislation to keep the government open and faces a slew of other unfinished legislation, including hurricane aid and funding for children’s health.
Many hoped the White House meeting might lay a foundation to keep the government running and set a path for a year-end spending package to give the Pentagon and domestic agencies relief from a budget freeze. A host of delicate issues were on the table.
But on Twitter, Trump upended the negotiations and signaled that he’ll adopt a hard line.
“Meeting with ‘Chuck and Nancy’ today about keeping government open and working. Problem is they want illegal immigrants flooding into our Country unchecked, are weak on Crime and want to substantially RAISE Taxes. I don’t see a deal!” Trump tweeted.
The pending tax bill can advance without fear of a Democratic filibuster in the Senate, but Trump and congressional Republicans need Democratic help to advance this year’s longdelayed round of spending bills. It’s not just the threat of a Democratic filibuster in the Senate but the need for Democratic votes in both House and Senate to make up for GOP defections on the right.
A temporary spending bill expires Dec. 8, and another is needed to prevent a government shutdown. Hurricane aid weighs in the balance, and Democrats are pressing for legislative protections for immigrants known as “Dreamers,” even as conservative Republicans object to including the issue in the crush of year-end business.
There’s also increased urgency to find money for the children’s health program that serves more than 8 million low-income children. The program expired on Oct. 1, and states are continuing to use unspent funds.