WASHINGTON — The two top Democrats in Congress on Saturday demanded a meeting with President Donald Trump before the Sept. 30 deadline to fund the government, warning him that Republicans would be blamed for a painful shutdown if he refused to negotiate with them.

“It is now your obligation to meet with us directly to reach an agreement to keep the government open and address the Republican health care crisis,” Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the two minority leaders, wrote in a joint letter to the president.

“We do not understand why you prefer to shut down the government rather than protect the health care and quality of life of the American people.”

They added, “At your direction, Republican congressional leaders have repeatedly and publicly refus

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