Top House Dem fires back at Trump's 'unhinged' shutdown remarks amid collapse of gov funding talks
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., responds after Trump cancels planned meeting with Dems
By Elizabeth Elkind , Alex Miller Fox News
Published September 23, 2025 4:29pm EDT
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., criticized recent remarks by President Donald Trump as "unhinged" during a press conference on Tuesday, as the federal government lurches toward a potential shutdown at the end of this month.
Jeffries held a media availability in his Brooklyn, New York, district after Trump canceled a planned meeting with congressional Democratic leaders on the issue of government funding.
Trump accused Democrats of making "unserious and ridiculous demands" in their push for a compromise deal to avert a shutdown.
"The statement that Donald Trump issued today was unhinged, and it related to issues that have nothing to do with the spending bill that is before the Congress, and the need to try to avoid a government shutdown," Jeffries said in response.
He said at an earlier point, "Leader Schumer and I are ready to meet with anyone, anytime, at any place, to discuss the issues that matter to the American people and avoid a painful, Republican-caused government shutdown."
"Democrats do not support the partisan Republican spending bill because it continues to gut the healthcare of the American people," he added.
Schumer held his own press conference later in the afternoon, where he charged, "Today seems to be tantrum day for Donald Trump."
"Mr. President, do your job," he said. "Stop ranting, stop these long diatribes that mean nothing to anyone. Get people in a room and let's hammer out a deal."
The House passed a short-term extension of fiscal year (FY) 2025's government funding levels intended to keep federal agencies running through Nov. 21, in order to give Senate and House appropriators more time to reach a deal on FY 2026.
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/top-house-dem-fires-back-trumps-unhinged-shutdown-remarks-amid-collapse-gov-funding-talks
