President Trump unloaded on House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer Tuesday; blasting the top Democrats for their inability to secure funding for his proposed border wall.
The highly anticipated sit-down quickly escalated, in public, as Trump allowed the press to attend the start of it. The President began by repeatedly telling Pelosi, the House Democratic leader, his party is limited in what it can do because it will take Democratic support to pass anything through the Senate. The Commander-in-Chief vowed to “shut down” the government should they fail to reach an agreement.
"Nancy is in a situation where it's not easy for her to talk right now," Trump says of Pelosi.
"Don't characterize the strength I bring to this meeting," Pelosi fires back.
MORE: https://t.co/eaJlc14j6b pic.twitter.com/Np5syH6LDH
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) December 11, 2018
Trump, Pelosi and Schumer devolve into shouting match over the wall in Oval Office meeting, with Trump asserting: "I am proud to shut down the government for border security, Chuck… I will be the one to shut it down" https://t.co/7kP3zbH1DL pic.twitter.com/BDRVNWZegM
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) December 11, 2018
“If there’s not border security, I won’t take it!” Trump confirmed. “I am proud to shut down the government for border security.”
“I will take the mantle,” he added. “I will be the one to shut it down. And I’m gonna shut it down for border security.”
The meeting ended a half-hour after the cameras stopped rolling. The very-public discord leaves unclear whether the two sides can come to an agreement to keep the government running before the December 21st deadline.
