Why Donald Trump is refusing to work with Democrats
US president rages at hastily arranged press conference after terminating infrastructure summit

Donald Trump says he refuses to work with Democrats unless they stop investigating him and lift the threat of impeachment.
The US president cut short a meeting with Democratic leaders about an infrastructure plan after just a few minutes yesterday.
Then, in a hastily arranged press conference in the Rose Garden outside the Oval Office, he said: “Instead of walking in happily into a meeting, I walk into, look at people that have just said that I was doing a cover-up.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In a tirade which CNN said showed Trump’s “deepening rage with Democrats”, he added: “I don’t do cover-ups. You people know that probably better than anybody.”
He was apparently referring to House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, who had told reporters that he was “engaging in a cover-up”.
Talking directly about allegations that he colluded with Moscow during the 2016 election, he continued: “We did nothing wrong. They would have loved to say we colluded... they were out to get us. The crime was committed on the other side. We will see how that all turns out.”
A poster declaring “no collusion” was affixed to his podium, underneath the presidential seal.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Minutes later, Democrats had their say. Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer said that what happened at the White House would “make your jaw drop” and suggested that Trump had planned the entire stunt in advance.
Pelosi added: “Maybe it was lack of confidence on his part, he couldn’t match the greatness of the challenge that we have. He just took a pass and it just makes me wonder why he did that. In any event, I pray for the president of the United States and I pray for the United States of America.”
Trump faced a significant blow later in the day when a New York judge ruled that he would not block recent congressional subpoenas demanding the US president’s financial records from two banks.
“I will not enjoin enforcement of the subpoenas,” Judge Edgardo Ramos said, after hearing arguments from lawyers for Trump and Congress.
CNN said: “It just got harder for Donald Trump to keep his tax returns a secret”, while The New York Times said Trump’s “financial secrets” have moved “closer to disclosure”.
-
Forest Lodge: William and Kate's new home breaks with royal tradition
In the Spotlight Wales' said to hope move to 'forever home' in Windsor Great Park will 'leave unhappy memories behind'
-
Cloudbursts: what are the 'rain bombs' hitting India and Pakistan?
The Explainer The sudden and intense weather event is almost impossible to forecast and often leads to deadly flash-flooding and landslides
-
Atoms into gold: alchemy's modern resurgence
Under the radar The practice of alchemy has been attempted for thousands of years
-
Trump extends power with D.C. police takeover
Feature Donald Trump deploys 500 law enforcement officers and 800 National Guard members to fight crime in Washington, D.C.
-
DC protests as Trump deployment ramps up
Speed Read Trump's 'crusade against crime' is targeting immigrants and the homeless
-
Ukraine, European leaders to meet Trump after Putin talks
Speed Read Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy today following talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week
-
Trump and Modi: the end of a beautiful friendship?
In the Spotlight Harsh US tariffs designed to wrest concessions from Delhi have been condemned as 'a new form of imperialism'
-
It is 'beyond time for us to seek bipartisan solutions' for Afghanistan
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Man charged for hoagie attack as DC fights takeover
Speed Read The Trump administration filed felony charges against a man who threw a Subway sandwich at a federal agent
-
Why do Dana White and Donald Trump keep pushing for a White House UFC match?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION The president and the sports mogul each have their own reasons for wanting a White House spectacle
-
'E-bikes have made our lives more complicated'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day