Trump Cancels Meeting with Democratic Leaders Amid Government Shutdown Impasse

President Donald Trump has canceled a scheduled meeting with top Democratic congressional leaders intended to prevent a partial government shutdown due to start next week.

In a statement, Trump indicated that discussions would be unproductive under the current circumstances. He stated that he would only meet if Democrats agreed to some of his demands, asserting the meeting would not be productive otherwise.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries had previously announced an expected meeting with Trump at the White House before the September 30 funding deadline.

Congress is currently at an impasse, with government funding set to expire on September 30. The Republican-controlled House passed a short-term bill to keep the government open through November 21, but the Senate rejected both the GOP and Democratic proposals.

Schumer criticized Trump's decision, stating, "Trump is running away from the negotiating table before he even gets there."

Democrats have demanded an extension of Affordable Care Act funding to prevent insurance premium increases next year.

Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune spoke to Trump on Monday night by phone and urged him to call off the meeting with Jeffries and Schumer, according to sources familiar with the conversation.

The cancellation complicates efforts to avoid a government shutdown, as both parties remain deeply divided over health care policy and other funding issues.