Trump tells Democrats no meeting over shutdown until government reopens

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Reuters

October 21, 2025 6:16 PM EDT Updated 1 hour ago


WASHINGTON, Oct 21 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Tuesday rebuffed a request by top Democratic lawmakers to meet until the three-week-old U.S. government shutdown ends.

"I would like to meet with both of them, but I said one little caveat, I will only meet if they let the country open," Trump told reporters, referencing the request by U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to meet "anytime, anyplace."

All but three senators in the Democratic caucus are withholding their support for the Republican-led stopgap funding bill, unless Trump and enough Republican lawmakers agree to an extension of an enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credit that is due to expire on December 31. Without an ACA extension, millions of Americans are girding for significant increases in their healthcare premiums, which Democrats have called "a healthcare crisis."

Meanwhile, Republicans who control Congress have begun talking about possible next steps in what has been a stalemate with Democrats who are withholding their support from a temporary funding bill until they win an extension of a healthcare subsidy.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/schumer-says-democrats-seeking-meeting-with-trump-2025-10-21/

[Ocelot II]

1. No meeting about the shutdown until the shutdown is over? WTF?

[BlueKota]

7. That makes no fucking sense

but that's what you expect from a WH that doesn't know it's ass from a hole in the ground. If they agree to open government there is no "shutdown," to discuss.

[Javaman]

15. it's the same bizarre argument tiny johnson has been using.

as I said from the onset of this gross stupidity, this shutdown, is going to go on for a long time if not forever.

this is a feature not a bug to the nazis

[bucolic_frolic]

2. "a healthcare crisis." Rural hospitals will shutter fast. Doctors will have less work. People will be sick.

So it is a healthcare crisis, not "a healthcare crisis." .

[Lovie777]

3. To be honest...........

destroying the People's House aka White House without the people's approval is FUCKED UP.

[Deuxcents]

4. Who is running this shit show? Is he now the Speaker, too? He's castrated the r leaders without a whimper

[kimbutgar]

5. He doesn't want the government to reopen because he is attempting a coup right in front of our eyes.

He will declare a national emergency and make himself a dictator and void our constitution.

[orangecrush]

13. Then millions will go to DC

And stay there till he resigns.

You cannot rule a country with this many people by force.

[Baitball Blogger]

6. If you're counting on Trump, he has enough money to keep himself busy between golf

and the ballroom construction...unless...doesn't his money dry up too if there is a shutdown?

[Enter stage left]

8. Somebody needs to walk up to him right to his face and scream...

FUCK YOU!

[James48]

9. Trump says he will hold his breath until he turns blue.

I’m ok with that.

[cstanleytech]

10. Translation: He's much to busy playing golf.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

11. Do your fucking job Slobfather

[orangecrush]

12. Then fuck you orange anus

EOM

[Volaris]

16. Yep. Your Dem reps are in the building every day, waiting for the gop to come to the table.

They don't NEED dem votes to do what they want. Dems should wait till the 5th of Nov (after WIC bennies shut down), and then head home to their districts to hold town halls every week, do constituent work, etc, etc.

If trump wants the GOP message to be 'do what I demand or starve'...well, let them live that legislative truth, and see what happens.

[valleyrogue]

14. If this isn't 25th Amendment, I don't know what is

If you aren’t willing to meet with Democrats about the government shutdown until the government reopens when the government won’t reopen until there is talk to reopen, then how can you reopen the government? Trump‘s brazen stupidity is clearly on parade, not to mention his obvious dementia