The clock ticks toward a shutdown: From the Politics Desk

Welcome to the online version of From the Politics Desk, a newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team’s latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail.

In today’s edition, we bring you the latest from two major meetings President Donald Trump hosted at the White House today with congressional leaders and with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

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— Adam Wollner

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Vance says a shutdown is likely after Trump meets with Hill leaders

By Scott Wong, Sahil Kapur, Yamiche Alcindor and Melanie Zanona

Republican and Democratic leaders emerged from a high-stakes meeting at the White House today and traded blame for a government shutdown that could take place in a little more than 24 hours.

The meeting, hosted by President Donald Trump, produced no breakthrough to keep the government funded, with Vice President JD Vance predicting a shutdown will occur.

“I think we’re headed to a shutdown because the Democrats won’t do the right thing,” Vance, flanked by House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said after the meeting.

Funding is set to run out at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday unless Trump and leaders on Capitol Hill can reach an eleventh-hour agreement.

Speaking separately to reporters, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said Democrats would not back a funding bill that “continues to gut the health care of everyday Americans.”

Standing next to Jeffries, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said that while Democrats and Trump have “very large differences” over health care, “for the first time the president heard our objections and heard why we need a bipartisan bill.”

Schumer added that he pitched some proposals to Trump. “Ultimately, he’s the decision-maker. … There’s still large differences between us,” he said.

GOP split: On a conference call with House Republicans earlier in the day, Johnson made it clear he does not plan to bring the House back into session until next week, two sources on the call said.

Johnson advised members not to hold political events or fundraisers during a potential shutdown, which he said could make for poor optics, and encouraged everyone to stay unified, these people said.

House GOP Conference Chair Lisa McClain of Michigan then walked members through some polling and advised them not to make their message about health care because that’s where Republicans lose the argument, the sources said. McClain argued that if Republicans talk about the harmful economic impact of a shutdown, instead, the GOP has the upper hand and a winning message.

Several rank-and-file Republicans on the call pushed back against the idea of keeping members out of town until next week, the sources said. Both Reps. Beth Van Duyne of Texas and Mike Lawler of New York spoke up on the call and argued the House should come back sooner so Republicans can better message and hammer Democrats on the airwaves.

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Trump holds crucial talks with Netanyahu to push deal to end Gaza war

By Abigail Williams, Monica Alba, Chantal Da Silva and Katherine Doyle

President Donald Trump touted his plan for a peace deal in Gaza after his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House today but said Israel would have the “full backing” of the United States to destroy Hamas if the plan falls through.

“I think we are very close,” Trump said at the White House, adding that Israel could continue its campaign if Hamas fails to agree to the plan.

“Bibi, you’d have our full backing to do what you would have to do,” he said.

The 20-point U.S. plan to end the war, which would begin with an immediate ceasefire, proposes that Hamas release all of the hostages within 72 hours in exchange for a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops with the aim of a permanent ceasefire, according to the White House.

Hamas members who commit to peace and lay down their arms would be given amnesty, offering them a pathway to rejoin civilian life, while those who wish to leave Gaza would be offered safe passage, the White House said.

Full humanitarian aid would resume, administered by the United Nations and its organizations, the Red Crescent and other groups. According to the plan, Gaza would be redeveloped “for the benefit of the people of Gaza.”

“I hope that we’re going to have a deal for peace, and if Hamas rejects the deal, which is always possible, they’re the only one left,” Trump said. “Everyone else has accepted it.”

White House special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner have been closely involved in the process, along with Vice President JD Vance and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, Trump told reporters.

He also said he would chair a temporary transitional oversight body for Gaza, known as the Board of Peace, alongside former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and other high-profile participants.

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See the full 20-point plan here →

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That’s all From the Politics Desk for now. Today’s newsletter was compiled by Adam Wollner and Bridget Bowman.

If you have feedback — likes or dislikes — email us at politicsnewsletter@nbcuni.com

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