Trump to Democrats: No deals on infrastructure, drug prices until they drop investigations
Michael Collins, John Fritze and Eliza Collins, USA TODAYPublished 8:48 a.m. ET May 22, 2019 | Updated 4:27 p.m. ET May 22, 2019
President Donald Trump told Democratic leaders he wouldn't work with them unless they abandoned investigations into his presidency. USA TODAY
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WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump informed Democratic leaders Wednesday that he wouldn't work with them on shared priorities such as infrastructure and bringing down the cost of prescription drugs unless they abandoned investigations into his presidency.
In an unusual and unexpected appearance in the Rose Garden, Trump said he told House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer at a White House meetingthat it would be impossible to go forward on discussions while "phony" congressional investigations hang over his administration.
Trump spoke specifically about infrastructure, but it was difficult to see how the White House could work with the Democratic-controlled House on other issues, including prescription drugs or a pending trade agreement with Mexico and Canada that the president wants approved.
"You probably can’t go down two tracks," he said after wrapping up a meeting with the two Democratic leaders at the White House. "You can go down the investigation track, or you can go down the investment track."
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Trump aides placed a sign on the lectern that included a favorite talking point: "no collusion," referring to special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of Russian interference in the U.S. election. The president took two questions, then walked back into the West Wing.
Pelosi meets with Dems: Speaker tries to rein in calls for a Trump impeachment as Democrat outrage grows
Back on Capitol Hill, Pelosi said she was disappointed Trump backed out of talks.
“For some reason, maybe it was a lack of confidence on his part, but he couldn’t come back for the greatness of the challenge we have,” Pelosi said. “I pray for the president of the United States, and I pray for the United States of America.”
Trump's meeting with the Democrats came three weeks after an unusual moment of bipartisanship, when they agreed to spend $2 trillion on the nation’s crumbling highways, bridges and airports. Still missing was a plan to pay for that investment.
Hours before Pelosi and Schumer were expected at the White House, Trump took to Twitter and accused congressional Democrats of being so focused on investigating himthey weren't getting other things done.
Michael Collins, John Fritze and Eliza Collins, USA TODAYPublished 8:48 a.m. ET May 22, 2019 | Updated 4:27 p.m. ET May 22, 2019
President Donald Trump told Democratic leaders he wouldn't work with them unless they abandoned investigations into his presidency. USA TODAY
CONNECTTWEETLINKEDINCOMMENTEMAILMORE
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump informed Democratic leaders Wednesday that he wouldn't work with them on shared priorities such as infrastructure and bringing down the cost of prescription drugs unless they abandoned investigations into his presidency.
In an unusual and unexpected appearance in the Rose Garden, Trump said he told House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer at a White House meetingthat it would be impossible to go forward on discussions while "phony" congressional investigations hang over his administration.
Trump spoke specifically about infrastructure, but it was difficult to see how the White House could work with the Democratic-controlled House on other issues, including prescription drugs or a pending trade agreement with Mexico and Canada that the president wants approved.
"You probably can’t go down two tracks," he said after wrapping up a meeting with the two Democratic leaders at the White House. "You can go down the investigation track, or you can go down the investment track."
BY P.C. RICHARD
$449.97 -Frigidaire 15,000 BTU Window/Wall Air Conditioner
See more →
Trump aides placed a sign on the lectern that included a favorite talking point: "no collusion," referring to special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of Russian interference in the U.S. election. The president took two questions, then walked back into the West Wing.
Pelosi meets with Dems: Speaker tries to rein in calls for a Trump impeachment as Democrat outrage grows
Back on Capitol Hill, Pelosi said she was disappointed Trump backed out of talks.
“For some reason, maybe it was a lack of confidence on his part, but he couldn’t come back for the greatness of the challenge we have,” Pelosi said. “I pray for the president of the United States, and I pray for the United States of America.”
Trump's meeting with the Democrats came three weeks after an unusual moment of bipartisanship, when they agreed to spend $2 trillion on the nation’s crumbling highways, bridges and airports. Still missing was a plan to pay for that investment.
Hours before Pelosi and Schumer were expected at the White House, Trump took to Twitter and accused congressional Democrats of being so focused on investigating himthey weren't getting other things done.
