Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said he pleaded with President Trump not to "hold millions of Americans hundreds of thousands of workers hostage" during their White House meeting.

But Schumer said Trump wasn't willing to work with Democrats -- and would continue to keep the government closed.

"We told the President we needed the government open. He resisted. In fact he said he would keep it closed for a very long period of time, months or even years," Schumer said.

Lawmakers had contentious discussion on several key issues, Schumer said.

"The discussion then, we discussed a bunch of issues as the leader said that were contentious and we will continue discussing of course, but it's very hard to see how progress will be made unless they open up the government," Schumer said.

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