In a last-ditch effort to prevent a government shutdown, President Donald Trump has called upon congressional Democrats to support a House-passed stopgap funding bill. The critical negotiation is set to take place in an Oval Office meeting scheduled for Monday, less than two days before the government could run out of funds.

The deadlock between the two parties centers around the future of health insurance subsidies which are set to expire soon. While Republicans, led by Trump, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and House Speaker Mike Johnson, push for a "common-sense, clean funding resolution," Democrats are keen on securing negotiations to extend these crucial subsidies.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized the administration's stance during a Fox News interview, stating, "The president is giving Democrat leadership one last chance to be reasonable, to come to the White House today to try to talk about this."

This high-stakes meeting marks the first major attempt to break the weeks-long impasse over government funding. Without congressional action by Wednesday at 12:01 a.m., the federal government will shut down, affecting countless operations and employees nationwide.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries expressed the Democrats' intentions, noting that they aim to engage in "good-faith negotiations" that not only prevent a shutdown but also protect the health care interests of Americans. However, Jeffries has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with mere promises of future talks, seeking more concrete actions regarding the insurance subsidies.

Senate Democrats show a less united front, with Minority Leader Chuck Schumer calling for "real negotiations" rather than settling for a temporary funding measure that neglects the Affordable Care Act credits. The stance of other influential Senate Democrats remains uncertain as they await the outcomes of Monday's critical discussions.

As the clock ticks down, all eyes are on this pivotal meeting, which could either bridge the divide or plunge the government into a disruptive shutdown.