Trump tells Democrats no meeting over shutdown until government reopens [View all]
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/
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