Trump Rejects Meeting Amid Shutdown, Funding Standoff | JQJO

President Donald Trump rejected a request to meet with Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries, saying he’ll talk only after the three-week U.S. government shutdown ends. Democrats are withholding support for a Republican stopgap funding bill unless an enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credit, expiring Dec. 31, is extended — warning of steep premium hikes. Republicans signaled they may prolong the stopgap past its Nov. 21 deadline, with Senators Susan Collins and John Thune saying more time is needed. Thousands of federal workers have been furloughed since Oct. 1 after about $1.7 trillion in agency funding lapsed.