Trump Urges Schumer to Change Position to Prevent Government Shutdown

President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress say there is only one way to avoid a midnight government funding shutdown: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer needs to change his position.

Republican leaders still need the crucial votes of Schumer and his caucus to pass any funding bill, and at the moment neither side is willing to back down.

With a little more than 24 hours to a possible funding shutdown, Schumer and other congressional leaders are arranging to hold one final meeting with Trump at the White House to try to avert a government shutdown. Meanwhile, it remains unclear whether both sides are aiming to strike a deal.

Speaker Mike Johnson told CNN that the president wants to use the meeting to persuade Democrats to back the Republican plan – without Obamacare tax credits that Schumer and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries are insisting on.

«Chuck Schumer has returned with a long list of partisan demands that do not fit into this process, and he is going to try to stop the government. The president wants to talk to him about this and say: don’t do this.»

«It entirely depends on the Democrats.»

Democrats, meanwhile, used their appearances on Sunday television programs in Washington to emphasize that they will not back down from the demands to extend Obamacare subsidies in exchange for supporting government funding.

«Our position was very clear: repeal the cuts, lower the costs, protect health care,» said Hakeem Jeffries on ABC’s This Week.

«Our position was very clear: repeal the cuts, lower the costs, protect health care.»

«Mike Johnson understands this policy best, and he sees that the political rhetoric is in his favor.»

CNN’s Elise Kim and Kamila Dechalus joined this report.

Experts expect a prolonged political battle, during which both parties will try to push their positions to a vote, as every action could either escalate the crisis or lead to a compromise on funding the government.

In the White House, there is currently no display of undue urgency to avert a shutdown, stressing that the responsibility for resolving the crisis lies with the Democrats – provided funding is secured without “side” demands.

“This situation is not merely a political game but a serious threat to many citizens who rely on government services,” summed up one analyst.

Conclusion: can the crisis be stopped?

The crisis is gradually building momentum: talks continue, but key questions remain unresolved, and the public lives in limbo between spending priorities and health-care needs. Analysts emphasize that further dynamics depend on the ability of both parties to find a compromise that will allow the government funding to pass by the end of the current week.

«This situation is not just a political game, but a serious threat to many citizens who rely on government services.»