Wednesday negotiations to end the partial government shutdown ended abruptly, with President Donald Trump leaving the room. The negotiations continued following televised remarks from Trump and from Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., on Tuesday night.
“Well, unfortunately, the president just got up and walked out. He asked Speaker Pelosi: ‘will you agree to my wall?’ She said: ‘no.’ And he just got up and said: ‘then we have nothing to discuss’ and he just walked out,” Schumer told reporters after the meeting.
The partial government shutdown is in day 19, and Republicans and Democrats still remain far apart on including Trump’s demand for $5.7 billion in funding for a border wall in the spending bill. Earlier in the day, Trump expressed that he believed Republicans and Democrats were working together, but hinted at using executive authority to get the wall built.
“I really believe the Democrats and the Republicans are working together. I think something will happen. I hope. Otherwise, we’ll go about it in a different manner,” he said.
However, he later expressed his frustration on Twitter after the meeting with Pelosi and Schumer broke down.
“Just left a meeting with Chuck and Nancy, a total waste of time. I asked what is going to happen in 30 days if I quickly open things up, are you going to approve Border Security which includes a Wall or Steel Barrier? Nancy said, NO. I said bye-bye, nothing else works!” the president tweeted.
Late Wednesday, the House passed a funding bill to provide appropriations to the Treasury Department and the IRS. It will move to the Senate, where it is not expected to receive a vote.
