US President Donald Trump on Tuesday cancelled a meeting with top Democratic Party leaders on funding the federal government to avoid a government shutdown.
“After reading the details of the frivolous and absurd demands made by minority left-wing radical Democrats in exchange for their votes to keep our country prosperous, I have decided that no meeting with their leaders in Congress can be productive,” Trump wrote in a social media post.
At the same time, he said he would only meet with Democrats if they agreed to some of his demands.
“I look forward to meeting with them if they are serious about the future of our country. We need to keep the government open and approve laws like true patriots, not hold American citizens hostage knowing they want our now prosperous country shut down. I will be happy to meet with them if they agree with the principles outlined in this letter,” Trump added.
This comes a day after the media reported that the president would meet with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Gakim Jeffries amid the looming government shutdown.
Commenting on the cancellation of the meeting, Jeffries said on social media x that “Trump is always afraid.”
Schumer wrote on social media x, “Happy New Year Mr President! When you’re done complaining, we can sit down and discuss health care.”
The two lawmakers are pushing for any temporary agreement to avert a government shutdown on September 30 to include protections for health care programmes, particularly by expanding tax credits.