Trump Cancels Meeting with Schumer and Jeffries After Seeing 'Unserious and Ridiculous Demands'

President Donald J. Trump on Tuesday flatly rejected a planned sit-down with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, citing what he called the Democrats’ “ridiculous” terms in exchange for keeping the government open.

The president was expected to meet with the Democratic leaders to negotiate funding ahead of the Sept. 30 budget deadline, according to Politico. But after reviewing their proposals, Trump took to Truth Social to slam the deal as unserious:

“After reviewing the details of the unserious and ridiculous demands being made by the Minority Radical Left Democrats in return for their Votes to keep our thriving Country open, I have decided that no meeting with their Congressional Leaders could possibly be productive,” he wrote.

GOP vs. Democrat Proposals

Republicans in the House already passed a clean seven-week stopgap measure by a narrow 217-212 vote, which extends government funding without new programs. Two Republicans, Reps. Thomas Massie (KY) and Victoria Spartz (IN), opposed the bill over deficit concerns, while Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) broke with his party to support it.

Democrats, by contrast, countered with a four-week plan stuffed with partisan priorities. Trump blasted their wish list as a far-left spending spree that would cost taxpayers over $1 trillion.

“They are threatening to shut down the Government of the United States unless they can have over $1 Trillion Dollars in new spending to continue free healthcare for Illegal Aliens (A monumental cost!), force Taxpayers to fund Transgender surgery for minors, have dead people on the Medicaid roles, allow Illegal Alien Criminals to steal Billions of Dollars in American Taxpayer Benefits, try to force our Country to again open our Borders to Criminals and to the World, allow men to play in women’s sports, and essentially create Transgender operations for everybody,” Trump wrote.

The president also accused Democrats of trying to wipe out a “$50 Billion Dollar Rural and Vulnerable Hospital Fund, which was passed with only Republican Votes, and proudly signed into Law by ME.”

Blame Game Over Shutdown

With the Sept. 30 deadline looming, the fight now turns to the Senate, where 60 votes are needed to advance the GOP’s plan. Republicans hold 53 seats, meaning at least seven Democrats would need to cross party lines to avert a shutdown.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that if the government closes, responsibility will rest squarely on Democrats.

“We want a clean funding extension to keep the government open, that’s all we’re advocating for,” Leavitt told Fox News. “If Democrats shut it down over their radical demands, the blame is on them.”

For now, Trump has left the door open for further talks — but only if Democrats “get serious about the future of our Nation.”