Breaking: Trump Threatens Government Shutdown in “Heated” Meeting With Dems
Photo courtesy of GettyWe knew something “interesting” was about to hit based on this tantalizing tweet from ABC White House reporter Meredith McGraw:
Pool comes out and says what just happened in the Oval Office was “UNBELIEVABLE” “I’ve never seen anything like that”
…and we wait to watch it all play out.
— Meridith McGraw (@meridithmcgraw) December 11, 2018
Now, details are beginning to emerge, and they involve a “heated” meeting between Trump and Democrats that apparently included threats from the president to shut down the government:
BREAKING: Trump threatens gov’t shutdown in heated meeting with Dem leaders over border wall, squabbling over election results.
— AP Politics (@AP_Politics) December 11, 2018
Here’s what we know of the specific conversation so far, from a series of tweets by Bloomberg’s Jennifer Jacobs:
Trump calls the White House pool reporters into the Oval Office for unscheduled comments as he meets with Dem leaders. Chief of Staff John Kelly is in room.
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) December 11, 2018
Trump, in Oval with Pelosi and Schumer, says they may not have an agreement today on southern border wall funding. “We probably won’t”
Pelosi: “The American people recognize we must keep government open.”
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) December 11, 2018
WILD OVAL SCENE
PELOSI: He doesn’t have the votes in House for wall.
TRUMP: “Nancy, I do.” Adds we need border security.
PELOSI: Of course we do.
SCHUMER: WaPo gave you Pinocchios about how much of wall’s built. You want to shut govt down.
TRUMP: If don’t get what we want yes.— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) December 11, 2018
And we have a photo:
Incredible argument unfolding now in front of the press between trump, Pelosi and Schumer over votes for border security. Pelosi keeps asking not to discuss it in front of the press. pic.twitter.com/pEEnFhuplY
— Vivian Salama (@vmsalama) December 11, 2018
Here’s some video, but not of the main argument:
Trump: “Tremendous amounts of wall have already been built.” pic.twitter.com/mqkhl7u42A
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) December 11, 2018
Pelosi has already begun branding this as a “Trump Shutdown”:
Pelosi: “We should not have a Trump shutdown.”
— Abby D. Phillip (@abbydphillip) December 11, 2018
Here’s partial video of the “debate,” in which Trump insists he has the votes in a Democratic House, and Pelosi repeatedly shoots him down:
Trump: “If I needed the votes for the wall in the house, I would have them in one session. It would be done.”
Pelosi: “So go do it.”
Josh: “Next two years are going to be amazing.” pic.twitter.com/tNFmnnFjUl
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) December 11, 2018
Anddddd here it is, the money clip, with an angry Trump vowing to shut it all down for “border security”:
dying.dead. pic.twitter.com/iKvXxbTNBe
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) December 11, 2018
And as a final bonus, Schumer even managed to get in a decent burn after Trump bragged about victories in North Dakota and Indiana:
hahahh pic.twitter.com/JIsv1zh2RT
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) December 11, 2018