US President Donald Trump on September 23 canceled a planned meeting this week with Democratic leaders in Congress on the budget, as the September 30 deadline approaches, making the risk of a government shutdown increasingly apparent.
According to the plan, Mr. Trump will have a working session with Senator Chuck Schumer and Representative Hakeem Jeffries to find a solution for the temporary spending bill. However, Mr. Trump said that the Democrats’ request to extend the health tax credit in the Obamacare program is “absurd and ridiculous,” and declared that such dialogue will not bring results.
Responding immediately, Democratic leaders criticized Mr. Trump for “dodging responsibility,” saying that the cancellation of the meeting pushed the government to the brink of paralysis. Mr. Schumer emphasized that while the American people are suffering from rising costs, the President chooses to be angry instead of taking action.
Analysts said the decision to cancel the meeting demonstrated Mr. Trump’s tough negotiating tactics, but at the same time reduced the chance of reaching a budget agreement before the deadline, making the risk of a US government shutdown even more real.
