There's a high-stakes meeting set for Monday afternoon at the White House: President Donald Trump will sit down in the Oval Office with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) (as well as with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA)) to hash out how to avoid a government shutdown with the Tuesday night funding deadline on the doorstep.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt joined "Fox & Friends" Monday morning to highlight the administration's position on the matter — and underscore the fact that if there is a shutdown, that's on the Democrats.
President Trump and Republicans are committed to keeping the government open.
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) September 29, 2025
There are no good reasons for the Democrats to shut down the federal government and hurt the American people.
Democrats need to stop playing political games and do their jobs.pic.twitter.com/bUwgnd6IL0
Leavitt noted:
"Let me be very clear about the president and the White House's position: All we are asking for is a common-sense, clean funding resolution — a continuing resolution — to keep the government open. This is a bill that keeps the government funded at the exact same levels as today, just adjusted for inflation. So there is zero good reason for the Democrats to vote against this, especially when the Democrats have voted for this 13 previous times, as recently as March. And so, this is the reasonable and common-sense thing to do. The president is giving Democrat leadership one last chance to be reasonable, to come to the White House today to try to talk about this. And now is not the time to try to get political points against Donald Trump; now is the time to do right by the American people and keep the government funded. Our most vulnerable in our society and our country will be impacted by a government shutdown. Everybody knows this, and that's why Republicans and the president want to keep the government open, and we welcome Democrats to join us in that effort."
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Trump Agrees to Meet Schumer and Jeffries to Stave Off Shutdown That Trump Just Might Want
She continued:
.@PressSec: The overwhelming majority of Americans want to keep government open. They want our military to be paid. They want assistance for women and children in impoverished communities to continue. All of that will come to an end if Democrats shut down the government. pic.twitter.com/tBmGoQOKAZ
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 29, 2025
"The leverage is in the president's hands because the overwhelming majority of the American public wants to keep the government open — I mean, it's not even close. Democrats and Republicans — Independents across the country — want the government funded, because they want our military and our troops to be paid. They want TSA agents and Border Patrol to be paid. They want food assistance programs for women and children and impoverished communities to continue going out the door. All of that will come to an end if Democrats vote against this clean CR that Republicans are proposing. And might I just add: Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries are on the record multiple times in their past political lives stating that they, too, believe a government shutdown is bad. In fact, I quote, Chuck Schumer, just last year, in 2024, said, 'A shutdown would mean chaos and pain and needless heartache for the American people.' Well, we hope that Chuck Schumer and the Democrats won't cause chaos and pain and heartache. We want our country to continue to be funded. We want our government to be open so we can continue doing the business of the American people."
The White House also sent out an email Monday morning, pointing out that the Democrats' reluctance to agree to a clean CR is putting veterans, seniors, and public safety at risk:
As Democrats bring the nation to the brink of a government shutdown, they jeopardize critical funding for veterans, seniors, law enforcement, and many others. As Democrats threaten to disrupt the lives and livelihoods of millions of Americans, organizations across the country are urging them to follow through on their word, join with President Donald J. Trump and Republicans, and keep government functioning for the people it serves.
Included in the email were testimonials from numerous groups supporting continued funding/avoidance of a government shutdown, including:
- American Federation of Government Employees
- Americans for Prosperity
- AMVETS
- Independent Women's Voice
- National Association of Police Organizations
- National Cattlemen's Beef Association
- Parents Defending Education
Leavitt is right to note where the leverage sits at the moment. That places the Democrats in a bit of a pickle, and they're going to have to decide if their priority is thwarting President Trump or keeping the government services they so fervently champion funded.
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