Trump spars with Schumer and Pelosi in Oval Office meeting

By Brian Ries, Veronica Rocha, Meg Wagner and Amanda Wills, CNN

Updated 3:47 p.m. ET, December 11, 2018
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3:33 p.m. ET, December 11, 2018

Our live coverage of President Trump's meeting with top House and Senate Democrats has ended. Scroll through the posts below to see how it all unfolded.

3:30 p.m. ET, December 11, 2018

Pelosi privately on Trump: The border wall is “Iike a manhood thing for him"

From CNN's Manu Raju 

After House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi left a contentious meeting with President Trump at the White House, she returned to Capitol Hill and spoke to members at a closed meeting of the Steering and Policy Committee. 

According to an aide in the room, Pelosi said she was "trying to be the mom" in the meeting with Trump.

"You can’t let him take you down that path," Pelosi said, according to an aide in the room. "But the fact is we did get him to say, to fully own that the shutdown was his."

Pelosi continued: "It’s like a manhood thing for him. As if manhood could ever be associated with him. This wall thing."

Hear more:

3:37 p.m. ET, December 11, 2018

McConnell says he’s hopeful for a “Christmas miracle” on government funding

From CNN's Manu Raju 

(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters at his weekly press conference that he is hopeful Democrats and President Trump can cut a deal before Christmas, despite the rhetoric we just heard at the Oval Office.

McConnell said he believes there can still be a “Christmas miracle.”

What happened earlier today: Trump clashed with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi over funding for his border wall. The President threatened to shut down the government if funding for his border wall is not included in the government spending package.

Hear more:

2:20 p.m. ET, December 11, 2018

In private, Pelosi describes Trump's remarks a "tirade" 

From CNN's Manu Raju

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said at a private reception for departing House members Tuesday afternoon that President Trump’s remarks at the White House earlier amounted to a “tirade," a person who was in the room told CNN. 

This is similar to what she said publicly, but it shows how Democrats viewed the meeting as off-the-rails.

1:50 p.m. ET, December 11, 2018

Here's how the White House described the meeting

From CNN's Betsy Klein 

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders just released a readout of the meeting between President Trump and Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer. 

In the statement, Sanders called the meeting a "constructive dialogue." She said the President was "grateful for the opportunity to let the press" into the meeting.

"Major disagreement remains on the issue of border security and transparency," the readout read.

Here's the full statement:

“President Trump had a constructive dialogue with Democrat Leaders Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi. The President and the Democrat Leaders agreed to support the passage of historic Criminal Justice Reform, and discussed significant progress with the Farm Bill. Major disagreement remains on the issue of border security and transparency. 
"Walls work — where walls have been built, illegal crossings have dropped substantially. President Trump made clear that any government funding measure must include responsible border security, including a wall, to protect the American people from drugs, crime, terrorism, public health threats, and the severe straining of the social safety net. Illegal immigration is deeply unfair to American workers, wage-earners, and taxpayers — costing billions of dollars and thousands of innocent lives. So far, the Democrat Party has made clear they would rather keep the border open than the government open. President Trump was grateful for the opportunity to let the press into the meeting so that the American People can see firsthand that while Republicans are fighting to protect our border, Democrats are fighting to protect illegal immigrants. This administration will always put Americans first.
We will continue to pursue real solutions to defend our nation and uphold our laws — and hope Democrats will work with us in a bipartisan fashion to do so. A nation without borders is no nation at all.”
1:35 p.m. ET, December 11, 2018

Pence says closed session with top Dems was “very candid”

From CNN's Ted Barrett 

President Donald Trump (R) argues about border security with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) as Vice President Mike Pence (C) sits nearby in the Oval Office on Dec. 11, 2018 in Washington, DC.
President Donald Trump (R) argues about border security with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) as Vice President Mike Pence (C) sits nearby in the Oval Office on Dec. 11, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Vice President Mike Pence told CNN the atmosphere in the closed portion of the meeting between President Trump, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer was “very candid." 

Pence described the overall meeting as a “good discussion” and said that “it went on quite a while after” the cameras left.  

He spoke with reporters briefly as he entered a lunch with Senate Republicans. 

3:47 p.m. ET, December 11, 2018

Schumer: "We were not expecting" that reality-TV style meeting

Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images
Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Reporters just asked Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer what he thought of the extraordinary meeting with President Trump.

"I think the President showed what he really thinks. He wants to shut down the government," Schumer said.

Asked if Schumer was expecting that reality TV atmosphere, he said no, "We were not expecting it.”

Hear more:

1:14 p.m. ET, December 11, 2018

Pence remained silent as Trump, Pelosi and Schumer argued over a shutdown

Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images
Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images

A lot was said during the tense meeting between President Donald Trump, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, which was broadcast moments ago on CNN.

But one man said nothing at all.

Vice President Mike Pence didn't say a thing. In fact, he barely shifted his position in the high-backed chair seated next to President Trump. But that silence won't last forever -- if there would ever be a tie in the Senate, Pence will have to speak.

1:09 p.m. ET, December 11, 2018

Pelosi: I asked Trump to pray over government shutdown

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, speaking to reporters, explained how she tried to convince President Trump to keep the government open and avoid a shutdown.

She said she told Trump that the new House of Representatives would pass six appropriations bills and have a continuing resolution until the end of next September.

"We are telling him we will keep government open with the proposal that Mr. Schumer suggested. Why doesn't he just think about it? In fact I asked him to pray over it," Pelosi said.

Watch it here: