Trump summons Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, Mike Johnson and John Thune to White House as government shutdown looms

Donald Trump has called on four congressional leaders for a White House showdown ahead of a looming government shutdown next week.

With government funding set to run out on Tuesday, Trump has called a meeting for Monday with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD).

‘President Trump has once again agreed to a meeting in the Oval Office,’ Schumer and Jeffries said in a statement.

‘As we have repeatedly said, Democrats will meet anywhere, at any time and with anyone to negotiate a bipartisan spending agreement that meets the needs of the American people. We are resolute in our determination to avoid a government shutdown and address the Republican healthcare crisis. Time is running out.’

Trump previously cancelled a meeting regarding the shutdown with Schumer and Jeffries earlier in the week because he believed it would have been unproductive, The Hill reported.

Jeffries held daily news conferences last week criticizing the meeting’s cancellation, and slammed the president for making time to attend the Ryder Cup on Long Island.

‘He didn’t have the time to meet with Democratic leaders and fund the government and address the Republican health care crisis, but Donald Trump right now, as we speak, is at a golf event?’ the lawmaker queried.

Schumer called on Thune urging him to set up a meeting with the president as the deadline for a government shutdown fast approaches, an aide to Schumer told the outlet.

President Donald Trump has called on four congressional leaders for a last minute meeting at the White House ahead of a looming government shutdown on Wednesday

Trump called on Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Mike Johnson (R-La) and John Thune (R-SD) for a meeting on Monday at the White House

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (pictured) slammed the president for making time to attend the Ryder Cup on Long Island after Trump cancelled a meeting to discuss the shutdown

Unless Congress takes action, once government funding runs out on Tuesday a shutdown will take place on Wednesday.

Any action from Congress to pass a spending package under chamber’s rules will need bipartisan support and requires support from at least seven Senate Democrats.

Earlier in September, Senate rejected a ‘clean’ continuing solution passed by the House from Republicans. The movement would have continued funding through until November 21.

Democrats in Congress have been asking Republicans to take action on issues such as Affordable Care Act subsidies that expire at the end of the calendar year, or rolling back Medicaid cuts signed into law by the Republican megabill earlier this year, The Hill reported.

Republicans have argued those issues are unrelated and can be solved on their own separately, while they have said other asks are unreasonable.

Trump condemned Democratic demands as ‘unserious and ridiculous,’ CNN reported.

Thune had said earlier in the week that he ‘did have a conversation with the president’ and offered his opinion on the meeting, which he declined to disclose.

‘But I think the president speaks for himself, and I think he came to the conclusion that meeting would not be productive,’ Thune added.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (pictured) said that he ‘did have a conversation with the president’ and said Trump ‘came to the conclusion that meeting would not be productive’

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (pictured) and Thune have argued against making a deal with the Democrats

Trump shakes hands with Keegan Bradley, Captain of Team United States on the first tee during the Friday afternoon four-ball matches of the 2025 Ryder Cup

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (pictured) called on Thune urging him to set up a meeting with the president as the deadline for a government shutdown fast approaches

Johnson and Thune have argued against making a deal with the Democrats. Republican leaders are looking for an extension of funding for seven weeks, with additional money for security for the legislative, executive and judicial branches.

Both parties are seemingly unwilling to back down, with Democrats confident that the blame for a shutdown would fall on Republican shoulders, while Republicans were set on showcasing the Democrat’s refusal to agree to the stopgap measure.

The House GOP planned to stay away from Washington as a show of their own unwillingness to engage Democratic alternatives. Democrats slammed House Republicans for being ‘on vacation.’

Should a government shutdown happen, it’s expected to be unlike any other with Trump and the White House Office of Management and Budget already urging agencies to cut workforce in programs that don’t align with the president’s goals.

Trump has already seen a notable government shutdown in his first term, which started in December 2018 and lasted 35 days – the longest recorded, the outlet reported.