President Trump on Tuesday rejected Democratic leaders’ request to meet with him to negotiate on health care, saying their party must first reopen the government.
The president’s rejection of the invitation from Senate and House Democratic leaders came on the 21st day of the government shutdown.
“I’d love to meet with them. I just want them to open up the country first,” Mr. Trump said.
He slammed Democrats for proposing $1.5 trillion in health care and other spending as their price for reopening the government, saying it would be “wasted and jeopardize health care.”
Democrats’ top ask is an extension of their COVID-era expansion of Obamacare premium subsidies, which is set to expire this year. Mr. Trump did not mention the subsidies on Tuesday, but previously said he would be willing to cut a deal with changes to the program.
Earlier Tuesday, Mr. Trump hosted Senate Republicans for lunch in the White House’s remodeled Rose Garden patio. He gave a lengthy speech in which he called on Senate Democrats to “stop the madness” and vote for the “clean” stopgap bill to reopen the government.
SEE ALSO: Senate prepares for 12th vote on funding bill as shutdown continues
“We will not be extorted on this crazy plot of theirs,” Mr. Trump said.
After Republicans returned to the Capitol with Trump-signed hats and other gifts, Senate Democratic leader Charles E. Schumer of New York slammed them for holding a “pep rally” at the White House instead of negotiating.
“Apparently Republicans don’t have the time of day to fix people’s health care, to lower costs, but there’s plenty of time for a photo op and [to] celebrate their pain,” he said.
Mr. Trump attacked Mr. Schumer directly in his remarks, calling him “a calculating political partisan” who shut down the government “in a craven and pointless act of partisan spite.”
In his later remarks from the Oval Office, the president predicted Mr. Schumer would not run for reelection in 2028 because he’s in trouble with the Democratic base.
“I think he’s mentally gone. He’s been beat up by young radical lunatics, and I think Chuck Schumer, he’s gonzo,” Mr. Trump said. “He’s probably not going to run.”
SEE ALSO: Democrat John Fetterman backs Republicans ‘nuking’ filibuster to end government shutdown
As the government shutdown enters its fourth week on Wednesday, it will become the second-longest shutdown in history.
• Lindsey McPherson can be reached at lmcpherson@washingtontimes.com.
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