WH accuses Schumer, Pelosi of ‘pettiness’ for pulling out of Trump meeting

by Jordan Fabian - 11/28/17 12:51 PM ET

The White House on Tuesday accused Democratic congressional leaders of “pettiness” after they abruptly pulled out of a meeting with President Trump.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders encouraged Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to attend the meeting with their GOP counterparts to discuss a government funding deal.

“The president’s invitation to the Democrat leaders still stands and he encourages them to put aside their pettiness, stop the political grandstanding, show up and get to work,” Sanders said in a statement. “These issues are too important.” {mosads}

Schumer and Pelosi canceled their appearance at the White House after Trump tweeted earlier Tuesday that he didn’t “see a deal” to avoid a government shutdown.

Meeting with “Chuck and Nancy” today about keeping government open and working. Problem is they want illegal immigrants flooding into our Country unchecked, are weak on Crime and want to substantially RAISE Taxes. I don’t see a deal!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 28, 2017

“Given that the president doesn’t see a deal between Democrats and the White House, we believe the best path forward is to continue negotiating with our Republican counterparts in Congress instead,” they said in a joint statement.

The saber-rattling comes less than two weeks before a Dec. 8 government funding deadline.

If lawmakers are unable to reach an agreement, either on a stopgap bill or longer-term budget deal, the government will shut down.

Tags Chuck Schumer Nancy Pelosi