Trump cancels meeting with Democrats as shutdown looms

President Trump has abruptly canceled this week's planned meeting with congressional Democratic leaders, refusing to negotiate over their demands to shore up healthcare funds as part of a deal to prevent a potential federal government shutdown.

- BY LISA MASCARO

PRESIDENT TRUMP said no meeting with Jeffries and Schumer “could possibly be productive.”

(MARK SCHIEFELBEIN Associated Press)

In a lengthy Tuesday social media post, Trump rejected the sit-down the White House had agreed to the day before. It would have been the first time the Republican president met with the Democratic Party's leaders, Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, since his return to the White House.

"I have decided that no meeting with their Congressional Leaders could possibly be productive," Trump wrote in the post.

The president complained the Democrats "are threatening to shut down the Government of the United States" unless the Republicans agree to more funding on healthcare for various groups of people he has criticized. Trump did not close the door on a future sit-down with the Democratic leaders, but he warned of a "long and brutal slog" unless Democrats dropped their demands to salvage healthcare funds.