On Tuesday, former President Donald Trump announced that he would not meet with top congressional Democrats to discuss their urgent demands for keeping the federal government operational. This decision prompted Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to accuse Trump of “running away from the negotiating table before he even gets there.” With a looming deadline of September 30 to authorize more funding, Congress is racing against the clock to avert a government shutdown that could lead to the closure of numerous federal agencies and the furlough of countless workers.
As part of their proposal, Republicans have suggested continuing funding until November 21 to facilitate the passage of legislation that would authorize spending for the remainder of the fiscal year. In contrast, Democrats are leveraging this deadline to insist that their healthcare priorities must be prioritized. Schumer, along with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, had initially called for a meeting with Trump to address this impasse. Earlier on Tuesday, they announced that the president had agreed to the meeting, emphasizing the need to tackle rising costs, particularly the ongoing Republican healthcare crisis.
However, just hours later, Trump took to Truth Social to declare that he would not participate in the meeting. “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, I have decided that no meeting with their Congressional Leaders could possibly be productive,” he stated. Trump did leave the door open for future discussions, insisting that he would be willing to meet if Democrats became “serious about the future of our Nation.”
In his statement, Trump emphasized the importance of keeping the government operational and urged legislators to act like “true Patriots” instead of “holding American Citizens hostage.” He expressed a willingness to meet with Democrats if they adhered to the principles outlined in a letter he referenced, criticizing them for their approach and warning that it would lead to a “long and brutal slog through their radicalized quicksand.”
In response, Jeffries posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Trump “just cancelled a high-stakes meeting” and accused the “extremists” of wanting to shut down the government due to their unwillingness to address the Republican healthcare crisis affecting Americans. He stated, “Trump Always Chickens Out,” a phrase that has gained traction amid the former president's inconsistent policy measures, including the imposition of tariffs.
Schumer echoed these sentiments, stating, “Trump is running away from the negotiating table before he even gets there. While Americans face rising costs and a Republican healthcare crisis, Trump would rather throw a tantrum than do his job.” Meanwhile, a spokesperson from the White House declined to comment on whether Trump had initially agreed to meet with the Democrats.
In light of the funding crisis, Democrats have proposed legislation that would fund the government through October 31. Their plan includes reversing changes to Medicaid enacted by Republicans earlier this year, which are projected to leave millions without healthcare coverage. Additionally, their proposal encompasses an extension of subsidies for healthcare plans under the Affordable Care Act, the restoration of funding for public media, and a prohibition on Trump’s “pocket rescission” of foreign aid.
Both parties have also included provisions in their funding bills for enhanced security for Congress members, judges, and executive branch officials, particularly in light of recent threats, including the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Republicans have proposed $88 million for security enhancements, while Democrats have suggested a significantly higher amount of $326 million.
