U.S. Democratic leaders cancel meeting with Trump over government funding

WASHINGTON, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Democratic leaders on Tuesday canceled a planned meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House after he tweeted earlier in the day that he didn't see a deal to avoid a federal government shutdown.

"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," House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer said in a joint statement.

"Rather than going to the White House for a show meeting that won't result in an agreement, we've asked Leader McConnell and Speaker Ryan to meet this afternoon," they said, referring to the two Republican congressional leaders.

Trump tweeted on Tuesday morning that he would meet with Democratic leaders later in the day to discuss funding the federal government after Dec. 8, when the current funding deal expires.

But the president claimed that Democratic leaders want "illegal immigrants flooding into our Country unchecked", and he didn't "see a deal" to avoid a government shutdown.

"If the President, who already said earlier this year that 'our country needs a good shutdown,' isn't interested in addressing the difficult year end agenda, we'll work with those Republicans who are, as we did in April," Pelosi and Schumer said in the joint statement.

The White House said Tuesday that the meeting would proceed without Pelosi and Schumer, but asked them to change their minds.

"The meeting will proceed as scheduled with Speaker Ryan, Leader McConnell and administration officials who are committed to getting things done. If the Democrats believe the American people deserve action on these critical year-end issues as we do, they should attend," White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement.

House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell also said in a joint statement that Democrats should attend the meeting scheduled at the White House.

"There is a meeting at the White House this afternoon, and if Democrats want to reach an agreement, they will be there," Ryan and McConnell said. Enditem