After nearly three weeks of a government shutdown, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) wonders what President Donald Trump is doing to end the standoff.

Jeffries criticized the president for his passive approach during a Monday press conference, The Hill reported, saying, “Donald Trump definitely needs to get involved. He needs to get off the fence, get off the golf course, and actually decide to end this shutdown that he’s created.”

Although the president met with top Democrats and Republican Party leaders to reach a compromise during closed-door meetings two days before the shutdown began, he has avoided talks with either party since the federal government’s budget expired on Oct. 1.

President Donald Trump was seen playing golf at Trump International Golf Links in Balmedie, Scotland, in July. On Monday, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries demanded that the president begin helping negotiate an end to the government shutdown.
President Donald Trump was seen playing golf at Trump International Golf Links in Balmedie, Scotland, in July. On Monday, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries demanded that the president begin helping negotiate an end to the government shutdown.

Andrew Harnik via Getty Images

Democrats are refusing to vote for the no-compromise spending bill, meaning an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies, while GOP top brass say they won’t negotiate until stopgap legislation is passed to get the government back up and running.

Jeffries said Trump’s decision to stay away was strategic, telling reporters, “We know that House and Senate Republicans don’t do anything without the permission of their boss, Donald J. Trump.”

“And the reason there have been no negotiations — zero negotiations since the Republicans shut down the government — is because Donald Trump clearly wants the government to shut down,” he added. “He wants to inflict pain on the American people.”

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“And this won’t change until Donald Trump gives Republicans permission to sit down with Democrats.”