Top Democrats Demand Urgent Meeting With Trump to End Government Shutdown

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries are demanding a high-stakes meeting with Donald Trump to bring an end to the ongoing government shutdown. In a strongly worded letter sent on Wednesday, the two top Democrats pushed for immediate bipartisan talks.

“We write to demand a bipartisan meeting of legislative leaders to end the GOP shutdown of the federal government and decisively address the Republican health care crisis,” they said.

They’re not just asking for Trump. They also want Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson at the table. The last time this group met was just before the shutdown started over a month ago. Since then, the federal government has remained frozen in political gridlock.

“Democrats stand ready to meet with you face to face, anytime and anyplace,” Schumer and Jeffries added.

Democrats are still split on strategy. A group of Senate Democrats is leaning toward reopening the government now and focusing on health care fights later. Others argue the party should keep holding out until Republicans agree to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies.

The White House has not yet responded to this open letter.