Washington — President Trump said Sunday that a government shutdown is likely unless top Democrats back down from their negotiating position.

"I just don't know how we are going to solve this issue," Mr. Trump said in a phone interview with CBS News.

Mr. Trump also expressed confidence that the American people will side with him if government funding expires in the coming days, and he believes Democrats will pay a political price for not working with him, on his terms, to further cut spending.

"They're not interested in fraud, waste and abuse," Mr. Trump said of the Democrats.

Mr. Trump will meet Monday with congressional leaders ahead of the Oct. 1 deadline for lawmakers to reach an agreement on a spending bill that would avert a shutdown.

A source close to Mr. Trump told CBS

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