President Trump met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer at the White House Wednesday afternoon. According to the President, it was a total waste of time.
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!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 9, 2019
Vice President Mike Pence and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy backed Trump's statement during remarks to reporters after the meeting. They were both in attendance. Minority Whip Steve Scalise, Republican Senator Tom Thune and DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen were also there.
JUST IN: Vice Pres. Mike Pence says Pres. Trump asked Speaker Pelosi if Democrats would support border wall funding if government were reopened quickly. "When she said no, the president said goodbye." https://t.co/dmGJgfBKh3 pic.twitter.com/Hk9Yxcr1kU
— ABC News (@ABC) January 9, 2019
"No is not a valid response to this problem," Minority Whip Steve Scalise said.
House GOP Whip @SteveScalise says "nobody slammed a hand on a table," as Schumer said Pres Trump did. He said Pelosi's "no" on oferring any support for a border wall is "not an acceptable answer" to the serious problems on the border. pic.twitter.com/OeWG63sBZN
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) January 9, 2019
Schumer and Pelosi accused President Trump of throwing a "temper tantrum" during the meeting.
Chuck Schumer describes a meeting he just had with President Trump: "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" pic.twitter.com/vFigwieLYL
— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 9, 2019
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says President Trump doesn't understand financial insecurity that federal workers face during the shutdown: "He thinks maybe they could just ask their father for more money. But they can’t” pic.twitter.com/PwcUykCXrp
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) January 9, 2019
So, here we are.
Despite abrupt end to today's meeting, @VP says “we hope they will come back to the table," he says of Democratic Leaders. Pence urging Americans to call their members of Congress and "tell them to come back to the table." He says the door here at the WH is wide open." pic.twitter.com/rZ5fhwo3op
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) January 9, 2019