President Trump tweeted on Wednesday that his meeting with Democratic leaders Senator Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was "a total waste of time."
"Just left a meeting with Chuck and Nancy, a total waste of time. I asked what is going to happen in 30 days if I quickly open things up, are you going to approve Border Security which includes a Wall or Steel Barrier? Nancy said, NO. I said bye-bye, nothing else works!"
The big picture: On Day 19 of the government shutdown, the two sides remain exactly where they started. President Trump has drawn a red line in his demands for a border wall, while the Democrats have drawn a red line in their refusal. Trump said today that the "threshold" for declaring a national emergency to build the wall would be if he can't strike a deal with "people that are unreasonable."
Details: A source in the room tells Axios that during the meeting, Schumer said to Trump, "You are using people as leverage. Why won't you open the government and stop hurting people?" Trump then responded, "Because then you won't give me what I want. And I am trying to do the right thing for the country. This isn’t about politics.”
- Trump later asked Pelosi if she would be in favor of a wall in 30 days, a congressional source familiar with the exchange tells Axios. When she responded no, Trump said, "What's the point" and slammed his hands on the table, before walking out and telling the room, "Bye bye."
Go deeper: Trump's next moves on the shutdown