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Trump also kicked off the meeting with an opening salvo charged with profanity for a duration of more than 15 minutes, in which he made it clear that he did not plan to move from its $ 5.6 billion application to the construction of a border wall, according to a person familiar with the meeting.
Trump also addressed the impeachment issue by addressing his remarks to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, according to two people familiar with what happened in the room. Pelosi, in response, told him that the meeting was supposed to be aimed at reopening the government, not the impeachment, said the people.
The shutdown lasted 13 days on Friday, with no fear of either side to reconsider their request for additional funding for a border wall, even after the meeting.
According to two people close to the file. Trump told the leaders that what had happened inside the room was $ 5.6 billion for the financing of the border wall and he was unwilling to negotiate. That's when he made it clear that it did not matter how long it would take – months, years, even in elections, according to these people.
Trump also said "that he would keep the government closed for a very long period of time – months, if not years," according to Senate Leader, Democrat, Chuck Schumer, who also attended the Friday morning meeting and spoke with reporters in the White House alley.
"Absolutely, I said that," Trump asserted soon after the rose garden. "I do not think that will be the case, but I'm ready."
Staff discussions will continue on Saturday, but even these were overshadowed by the confusion that followed the meeting. Trump said during his speech at the Rose Garden that a working group had been formed to continue the negotiations, led by Vice President Mike Pence. But Democratic officials aware of the meeting said that the idea of a specific "working group" had never been discussed during the meeting, but that Pence had suggested discussions with the staff. In the hours immediately following Trump's remarks, the composition of the person who would meet this weekend – and what the group would represent – seemed to be confusing for both sides.
Invitations were finally sent out to the leaders for the parties to meet at the Eisenhower Administration Building, which is next to the White House and where Pence has an office. The meeting, to which Pence is to attend and preside, will take place on Saturday at 11 am
Jim Acosta and Kevin Liptak of CNN contributed to this story.
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