After spending hours trying to work out a peace agreement between Israel and Hamas Monday afternoon, President Donald Trump then headed into a meeting trying to settle another feud much closer to home – between Republican and Democrat leaders over a government funding agreement.
If an agreement cannot be reached, a government shutdown will start at 12:00 a.m. on Wednesday.
Trump and Vice President JD Vance held a meeting in the Oval Office Tuesday afternoon between Republican leaders Sen. Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson, and Democrat leaders Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries.
Republicans are calling on the Senate to support a clean funding bill already passed by the House, that would extend the current spending levels to fund the government for another 7 weeks.
The Senate plans to bring the matter up for a vote on Tuesday, but so far, Democrats are refusing to budge, leaving the possibility of a shutdown very likely.
After Tuesday’s meeting, each side came outside and spoke to reporters.
FROM REPUBLICANS:
VP Vance said, “Democrats want a $1.5 TRILLION spending package that funded free health care for illegals. We told them that was absurd — and now they’re willing to shut down the government over it. It’s unacceptable.”
.@VP: Democrats want a $1.5 TRILLION spending package that funded free health care for illegals. We told them that was absurd — and now they’re willing to shut down the government over it. It’s unacceptable. pic.twitter.com/B8aUN9cp4i
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 29, 2025
Johnson explained that Schumer and Jeffries are wanting to claw back a $50 billion funding provision for rural hospitals.
“We’re not going to do that,” Johnson vowed.
.@SpeakerJohnson: Democrats are jeopardizing military pay, assistance for women and children in need, FEMA funding, mental health services, and so much more.
“The Democrat shutdown would be damaging for the country — and we can’t allow for it.” pic.twitter.com/mUMHkAnibn
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 29, 2025
WATCH the full briefing below:
FROM DEMOCRATS:
Jeffries wildly claimed that Republicans are seeking to “gut” the healthcare of everyday Americans, and touted that there’s a healthcare crisis happening among “black and brown communities.”
In fact, Democrats are reportedly demanding that many taxpayer funded health programs be restored to non-citizens.
Just left the White House meeting with Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans.
This fight is about the healthcare of the American people. pic.twitter.com/q0HALCVKhq
— Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) September 29, 2025
WATCH the Democrats’ press briefing below:
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