House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., slammed President Trump for political theatrics on Tuesday after he addressed the press while sitting between two empty chairs designated for her and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
“@realDonaldTrump now knows that his verbal abuse will no longer be tolerated,” Pelosi wrote on Twitter. “His empty chair photo opp showed he’s more interested in stunts than in addressing the needs of the American people.”
“Poor Ryan and McConnell relegated to props. Sad!” she continued, referring to House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who did attend the meeting.
.@realDonaldTrump now knows that his verbal abuse will no longer be tolerated. His empty chair photo opp showed he’s more interested in stunts than in addressing the needs of the American people. Poor Ryan and McConnell relegated to props. Sad!
— Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) November 28, 2017
Pelosi and Schumer were expected to attend a White House meeting to discuss a federal government spending package with Trump administration officials and key GOP congressional leaders in order to avoid a government shutdown. But the Democratic pair canceled after the president tweeted earlier on Tuesday that he didn’t “see a deal” being made before the Dec. 8 deadline.
After the meeting, Trump told reporters he would “absolutely blame the Democrats” if the government had to be shut down.
He made the comments while sitting between two empty chairs that had name cards for Pelosi and Schumer set up on the table in front of them.
Earlier, while announcing his intention not to show up for the meeting, Schumer criticized Trump of grandstanding. Schumer did say, however, he was “hopeful” an agreement could still be reached in the next two weeks.
