Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) characterized President Trump’s remarks during a televised meeting with himself and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) as a “temper tantrum” Wednesday.
“It is difficult, if nearly impossible, to negotiate with the president in front of the press who peddles such blatant and falsehoods,” Schumer said in a floor speech. “And because Leader Pelosi and I simply didn't go along with him, President Trump threw a temper tantrum and promised to shut the government unless he got what he wanted.”
Schumer accused the president of holding “parts of the government hostage” over border wall funding.
“No president should ever say that he or she would be proud to shut the government down,” he argued referencing Trump’s comments in the meeting.
No president should ever say that he or she would be “proud” to shut down the government.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) December 12, 2018
We gave the president two reasonable options to keep the government open. But if President Trump holds to his position, the American people will suffer needlessly. https://t.co/Fpj0iIoXmx
Trump told Schumer and Pelosi that he would be “proud” to shut down the government over border wall funding, adding, “I will take the mantle. I will be the one to shut it down. I’m not going to blame you for it.”
Schumer also accused Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) of refusing to engage with President Trump on his demand for $5 billion in funding for the wall. Democrats are insisting they will not approve more than $1.3 billion in funding for border security.
“Leader McConnell says he doesn’t want a shutdown, but he refuses to engage with the president to tell him what’s transparently obvious to everyone else. There will be no additional money for the wall,” Schumer said.
As for Sen. McConnell, he recently told reporters that he’s hoping for a “Christmas miracle.”
“I’m sort of hoping for a Christmas miracle,” McConnell said about avoiding a shutdown Tuesday, “magic things happen at Christmas. And that’s what I’m counting on.”
McConnell warned against a government shutdown following Trump’s meeting with Pelosi and Schumer.
“One thing I think is pretty clear no matter who precipitates the government shutdown is, the American people don’t like it,” he said. “I hope that will be avoided and both sides understand that’s not a great way to end what has, in my view, been the most successful Congress, right of center, in decades.”
If Democrats and Republicans are unable to reach a compromise by December 21st, there will be a partial government shutdown of seven government agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security.