President Donald Trump on Tuesday scrapped a meeting with top congressional Democrats leaders meant to discuss a path forward to avert a partial government shutdown beginning next week, saying he would only meet with them if they agree to some of his demands.

“I have decided that no meeting with their congressional Leaders could possibly be productive,” Trump wrote in a social media post.

U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries earlier on Tuesday had said Trump had agreed to meet this week at the White House, before funding expires on September 30.

The Republican-led House of Representatives passed a stopgap funding bill last week to extend funding through November 21, but it failed in the Senate where Republicans hold 53 of the 100 seats.

See Full Page