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President Donald Trump briefly signaled openness to negotiating with Democrats over Affordable Care Act subsidies they're seeking to include in a short-term funding bill before reversing course and insisting that the government must reopen first, per the Associated Press.
“We have a negotiation going on right now with the Democrats that could lead to very good things,” Trump told reporters on Monday (October 6). “And I’m talking about good things with regard to health care.”
The president walked back those remarks just hours later in a post on his Truth Social platform, aligning with GOP leaders who insist that reopening the government must come first.
“I am happy to work with the Democrats on their Failed Healthcare Policies, or anything else, but first they must allow our Government to re-open. In fact, they should open our Government tonight!" Trump wrote.
Trump's comments come as the government shutdown entered its seventh day on Tuesday (October 7). Democrats are refusing to support a short-term funding bill to reopen the government unless it includes an extension of enhanced subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, aimed at reducing health insurance costs.
Despite Trump's mention of talks between the two parties, Democratic leaders denied that there were any active negotiations on the table.
“Trump’s claim isn’t true, but if he’s finally ready to work with Democrats, we’ll be at the table,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats are “ready to sit down,” but the White House has been “radio silent."
Republican Speaker Mike Johnson dismissed the possibility of talks.
“There’s nothing for us to negotiate,” Johnson told reporters. “We did the job to keep the government open, and now it’s on the Senate Democrats.”
On Monday, the Senate held two votes on competing funding bills from each party, but neither came close to the 60-vote threshold required to advance.
“There may be a path forward,” Republican Sen. John Thune said regarding a deal on ACA subsidies. “A lot of it would come down to where the White House lands on that.”
Schumer said Democrats remain ready to work with Republicans to reopen the government and address health care.
“But it takes two sides to have a negotiation,” he said.
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