President Donald Trump said Tuesday he would be open to meeting with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries — but only if they first agree to reopen the government.
Trump made the comments during a Diwali celebration at the White House as the government shutdown stretched into its 21st day, The Independent reported.
“I would like to meet with both of them, but I set one little caveat,” Trump told reporters. “They have to let the country open. The people want to go back to work. They want to be served. They need the services of some people, and a lot of people need the money, the payroll, so I’ll do it as soon as they open up the country.”
Senate Democrats have so far blocked a continuing resolution — a stopgap measure to keep the government open while negotiations continue over long-term spending bills.
Democrats have pushed to include an extension of the Covid-era enhanced subsidies for the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance marketplaces, warning that without it, many Americans will see higher premiums in the coming weeks.
Republicans have argued that they cannot negotiate in good faith while the government remains closed. On Tuesday, the president hosted Senate Republicans for a luncheon at the White House.
During the event, Trump praised Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought — comparing him to Darth Vader — for cutting what he described as “all the things that they wanted” in Democratic-leaning states.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said any talks involving congressional leaders and the president could happen “as soon as we reopen the government.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson has kept the House out of session since passing a continuing resolution last month that received support from only one Democrat.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) expressed frustration after the luncheon, saying that genuine bipartisan talks were still possible but would require the administration’s engagement.
“We do have good people that are doing exactly that, but I think it’s well recognized that it’s not just the House that has to figure this out,” Murkowski told The Independent. “The administration is going to have to sign off on it so that the House will ultimately sign off on it.”
With both sides entrenched, dealmaking has become virtually nonexistent during the shutdown. Republicans remain firmly opposed to expanding the Affordable Care Act, while Democrats have rejected any spending deal without those subsidies attached.
“This guy, you know, he claims he knows the art of the deal,” Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) said of Trump. “He doesn’t know anything about that, obviously, from his behavior.”
Still, Baldwin added that the president could be motivated to reach an agreement on healthcare tax credits.
“He wants to solve this, he’s just being obstinate,” she said. “He owns this shutdown.”
Some Democrats uneasy with their leadership’s firm opposition to reopening the federal government privately admit they fear backlash from their party’s left-wing faction if they vote in favor of a Republican-backed funding measure.
Grassroots activists angered by the Trump administration have been urging Democratic lawmakers to stand their ground. On Saturday, crowds attended “No Kings” demonstrations across the country to protest President Donald Trump’s policies.
Within that context, Democrats recognize they could face significant criticism from the party’s progressive wing if they reopen the government without securing policy concessions.
“People are going to get hammered” if they vote for the House-passed measure to fund the government through Nov. 21, said one Democratic senator, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal party deliberations.
A second source familiar with the internal dynamics of the Senate Democratic caucus told The Hill ahead of the “No Kings” protests that centrist senators are hesitant to break ranks with party leadership while Democratic activists mobilize nationwide anti-Trump demonstrations.
