Trump to meet the best leaders in Congress on Monday before the government closed at midnight Wednesday

The meeting involving the president of the Chamber Mike Johnson and the head of the majority of the Senate John Thune as well as the Democratic leader of the Hakeem Jeffries Chamber and the minority head of the Senate Chuck Schumer were confirmed on Saturday by a White House official and another person familiar with planning. The two obtained anonymity to discuss a meeting that has not been announced.

The meeting was reported for the first time by Punchbowl News.

The parties have been in a confrontation for days while the Democrats, namely in the Senate, refused to offer the necessary votes to adopt a funding measure which would keep the government open beyond Tuesday.

In the absence of an action, a closure would start at 12:01 p.m. on Wednesday.

Democrats, believing that they have a lever effect, insisted on the main provisions of health care in exchange for their votes. They want an extension of subsidies that help low or intermediate employees to buy insurance thanks to the affordable care law. Democrats also insist on the reversal of Medicaid cuts which were included the tax measure of the signature of the GOP earlier this year.

The Republicans say that these requests are non-partists and that they are ready to have a conversation with the Democrats on these distinct issues of government funding talks. The GOP requests a direct extension of current funding for seven weeks.

Earlier in the week, Johnson admitted to having encouraged Trump not to meet the Democratic leaders last week after the White House had already planned a meeting for Thursday. Trump suddenly withdrew.

“He and I spoke about it for a long time yesterday and the day before. I said, look, when they do their job, once they did the basic work of government maintenance, as president, so you can have a meeting with him,” said Johnson, R-La. “Of course, it could be productive at that time, but right now, it’s just a waste of time.”

Thune, Rs.d., said that he “had a conversation with the president” and had offered his opinion on the meeting, which he refused to disclose. “But I think that the president speaks for himself, and I think he came to the conclusion that this meeting would not be productive,” said Thune.