WASHINGTON — A meeting between President Trump and Democrats about the government shutdown ended abruptly as both sides refused to compromise over the border wall.
President Trump called the meeting a total waste of time in a tweet. He said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she would not approve a border security plan that includes a wall or steel barrier.
There are bipartisan efforts in Congress to move forward with a spending plan that would open the government while giving Congress time to work on border security.
"It is so sad that in a matter of hours or just a few days many federal workers will not be receiving their paychecks," Pelosi said after the meeting with the president. "And what that means in their lives is tragic in terms of their credit rating, paying their mortgage, paying their rent, paying their car payment, paying their children's tuition and the rest. The president seems to be insensitive to that. He thinks maybe they could just ask their father for more money but they can't."
However, President Trump, on Capitol Hill Wednesday, made it clear to Republican lawmakers that he would not budge on funding for the border wall to reopen the government, and demanded Republicans stand with him.
"There was no discussion about anything but solidarity," Trump said about the meeting with Republicans. "We want national security and border security."
This is a developing story. Check back for the latest.