President Donald Trump canceled a scheduled meeting with top congressional Democrats this week, complicating negotiations as the government faces a possible shutdown on October 1. Trump dismissed Democrats’ budget demands as “unserious and ridiculous” and said talks would not be productive. Democrats accused Republicans of avoiding negotiations, with Rep. Hakeem Jeffries calling it a “Republican government shutdown” and Sen. Chuck Schumer urging Trump to return to the table. Democrats had planned to center funding demands on health care and rising costs.

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