Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Sunday said the chance of a looming government shutdown “depends on the Republicans.”
“You think you can keep the government open, or you think you’re headed for a shutdown?” NBC News’s Kristen Welker asked Schumer on “Meet the Press.”
“Well, it depends on the Republicans. You know, we need — the meeting is a first step, but only a first step,” Schumer replied, referencing an upcoming meeting with President Trump that he, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) are set to participate in.
“We need a serious negotiation. Now, if the President at this meeting is going to rant and just yell at Democrats and talk about all his alleged grievances and say this, that and the other thing, we won’t get anything done, but my hope is it’ll be a serious negotiation,” he added.
Trump is expected to meet with congressional leaders on Monday, shortly before a Tuesday shutdown deadline. The meeting is a notable shift after he axed another with Schumer and Jeffries earlier this week.
“President Trump has once again agreed to a meeting in the Oval Office. As we have repeatedly said, Democrats will meet anywhere, at any time and with anyone to negotiate a bipartisan spending agreement that meets the needs of the American people,” Schumer and Jeffries said in a prior joint statement.
“We are resolute in our determination to avoid a government shutdown and address the Republican healthcare crisis. Time is running out.”
Government funding ends after Tuesday, causing a government shutdown beginning Wednesday without Congress acting. Any measure needs bipartisan backing due to it taking 60 votes to overcome a filibuster in the upper chamber.
The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.
