US President Donald Trump has canceled a meeting with top Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries, citing the inability of any productive discussion. The cancellation comes despite growing concerns of a potential government shutdown due to the lack of health care funding talks.
The US is at risk of a federal government closure as early as next week, just before the Oct 1 deadline for the new fiscal year. Trump’s refusal to negotiate with Democrats over their demands for health care funds has intensified the stalemate.
Democratic leaders have accused Trump of throwing a tantrum and running away from negotiations. Schumer warned that Democrats will only discuss health care when Trump is “finished ranting.” The White House had agreed on the meeting just a day earlier, but it was called off by Trump due to what he claimed were impossible discussions.
Trump has previously shown a willingness to shut down the government over his long-promised US-Mexico border wall. He insisted that essential services would remain open during a potential shutdown.
House Speaker Mike Johnson’s office stated that Democrats are “holding government funding hostage” to their health care demands, with Republicans trying to avoid a shutdown. A temporary funding measure passed in the House but failed in the Senate, and a Democratic proposal was rejected due to the lack of health care funding.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/trump-government-shutdown-schumer-jeffries-meeting-8b1726435066403bf6b9fe4e4fffc029