President Donald Trump said he’s not surprised Democratic leaders did not show up to a planned meeting with him to negotiate a spending package to avert a government shutdown. Schumer and Pelosi said they would meet with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) instead. The president met with Senate Republicans about tax reform earlier Tuesday, telling reporters it was “somewhat of a love-fest” and “phenomenal,” and noting he thinks the Senate tax plan will pass. McConnell and Ryan were with Trump when he spoke to reporters on Tuesday afternoon, flanked by empty chairs representing the absent Schumer and Pelosi. “I think we have tremendous support,” Trump said, adding that Republicans are “in a very good position.”This story has been updated with additional quotes from Trump.

Source: Huffington Post November 28, 2017 21:02 UTC