LEADER JEFFRIES: "THIS IS DAY TWO OF DONALD TRUMP'S SHUTDOWN, BUT IT'S DAY 256 OF THE CHAOS THAT THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY HAS UNLEASHED ON THE AMERICAN PEOPLE"
Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference on the Capitol steps, where he emphasized that President Trump and Republicans are shutting down the government because they refuse to provide the healthcare that the American people need.
LEADER JEFFRIES: Good afternoon, everyone. This is day two of Donald Trump's shutdown, but it's day 256 of the chaos that the Trump presidency has unleashed on the American people. Republicans have shut the government down because they don't want to provide healthcare to working-class Americans. House Democrats continue to be here, on duty. House Republicans are on vacation. We are ready, we are willing, we are able to sit down with anyone, any time, any place, including the President and the Vice President, to try to find a path forward, to reopen the government, enact a spending agreement that actually meets the needs of the American people, while at the same time addressing the Republican healthcare crisis.
Unfortunately, Republicans have shown zero interest in even having a conversation. After the White House meeting on Monday, we've seen behavior by the President that is unserious and unhinged. And Leader Schumer and myself haven't gotten a single phone call as it relates to a follow-up conversation. We are ready to have that conversation, but we need credible partners on the other side of the aisle. And Donald Trump and Republicans have made clear they wanted to shut down the government, they want to inflict pain on the American people, they continue to engage in their retribution efforts and they have zero interest, zero, in providing high-quality, affordable and accessible care to everyday Americans.
Full press availability can be watched here.