But as US President Donald Trump welcomed Republican senators for lunch in the newly renovated Rose Garden Club -- with the boom-boom of construction underway on the new White House ballroom -- he portrayed a different vision of America as a unified GOP refuses to yield to Democratic demands for health care funds, and the government shutdown drags on
"We have the hottest country anywhere in the world, which tells you about leadership," Trump said in opening remarks, extolling the renovations underway as senators took their seats in the newly paved-over garden turned patio
It was a festive atmosphere under crisp, but sunny autumn skies as senators settled in for cheeseburgers, fries and chocolates, and Trump's favoured songs -- "YMCA" and "You Can't Always Get What You Want" -- played over the new sound system
And while Trump said the shutdown must come to an end -- and suggested maybe Smithsonian museums could reopen -- he signalled no compromise with Democrats over the expiring health care funds
"From the beginning, our message has been very simple, we will not be extorted on this crazy plot of theirs," Trump said
ADVERTISEMENT
