President Donald Trump looks on as he speaks to the press at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, U.S., September 7, 2025. (Reuters File)
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President Donald Trump on Tuesday scrapped a meeting with top congressional Democrats leaders meant to discuss a path forward to avert a partial government shutdown beginning next week, saying he would only meet with them if they agree to some of his demands.
“I have decided that no meeting with their congressional Leaders could possibly be productive,” Trump wrote in a social media post.
U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries earlier on Tuesday had said Trump had agreed to meet this week at the White House, before funding expires on September 30.
The Republican-led House of Representatives passed a stopgap funding bill last week to extend funding through November 21, but it failed in the Senate where Republicans hold 53 of the 100 seats. Republicans blame Democrats for holding up the funding due to their opposition to the president whereas Democrats argue healthcare issues need to be addressed in this funding bill.
Lawmakers are at odds over so-called discretionary funding, which accounts for just about one-quarter of the roughly $7 trillion federal budget.
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(Reporting by Bhargav Acharya, Susan Heavey and Doina Chiacu; editing by Scott Malone)