The top congressional leaders of both parties will meet Monday afternoon with President Donald Trump — less than 48 hours before a possible government shutdown — according to three people granted anonymity to discuss the plans ahead of a public announcement.
The meeting with Speaker Mike Johnson , Senate Majority Leader John Thune , Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is set to take place less than a week after Trump abruptly canceled a previously scheduled meeting with Schumer and Jeffries.
The new sitdown was set after Thune and Schumer spoke for the first time in weeks about the spending standoff, according to two other people granted anonymity to describe a private conversation.
In the Friday conversation, the Democratic leader urged Thune “to get President Trump to meet because the deadline for a government shutdown is fast approaching,” according to one of the people, a Schumer aide. The other person said the call was initiated by Schumer.
Democrats are pressing for an extension of health insurance subsidies that are set to expire at the end of the year, among other concessions. Trump and Republicans will press Senate Democrats to allow a House-approved seven-week stopgap pass and punt any larger negotiation for later. All Democratic senators except Pennsylvania’s John Fetterman voted to block the continuing resolution earlier this month.
In a statement confirming the meeting Saturday, Jeffries and Schumer said, “We are resolute in our determination to avoid a government shutdown and address the Republican healthcare crisis. Time is running out.”
The earlier meeting was scheduled in the wake of that vote, but it was canceled at the urging of Johnson and Thune, who see no reason for a negotiation at this juncture. “I look forward to meeting with you when you become realistic about the things that our Country stands for,” Trump told Democrats in a Tuesday social media post canceling the meeting.
The people knowledgeable about the new meeting noted Thune and Johnson have said they are willing to discuss the insurance subsidies at a later time. Trump isn’t expected to ask Democrats for anything additional at the meeting, they said, but agreed to meet with Democratic leaders after they asked for the sitdown.
“We want a clean CR, same as it always was,” one of the people said.
The meeting, which was first reported by Punchbowl News, is currently slated for 2 p.m. Monday. Senate Republicans are expected to put the House-passed measure up for a second vote Tuesday just hours before the midnight shutdown deadline.
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