Donald Trump engaged in an extraordinary argument with Democratic congressional leaders over his demand for border-wall funding, threatening a government shutdown if he does not get the money.

“I will be the one to shut it down,” he told House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer at the White House.

During the contentious meeting in the Oval Office, Pelosi repeatedly asked Trump not to discuss the funding request in front of the news media.

“You will not win,” Pelosi told Trump.

WILD OVAL SCENE
PELOSI: He doesn’t have the votes in House for wall.
TRUMP: "Nancy, I do.” Adds we need border security.
PELOSI: Of course we do.
SCHUMER: WaPo gave you Pinocchios about how much of wall's built. You want to shut govt down.
TRUMP: If don’t get what we want yes.

— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) December 11, 2018

The meeting was scheduled to be closed to the press but the White House unexpectedly opened it to reporters just as Pelosi and Schumer were arriving at the White House.

The exchanged heightened the sense of drama surrounding government-funding stalemate between Trump and Democrats.

.@POTUS: “I am proud to shut down the government for border security, Chuck.” pic.twitter.com/JcKIZov26E

— Sean Doody (@swdoody) December 11, 2018

Lawmakers face a December 21 deadline to avoid a partial government shutdown. Republicans and Democrats have been unable to bridge their dispute over how much money to provide for Trump’s border wall.

Democrats are offering $1.3 billion for border fencing and barriers, short of Trump’s $5 billion request.

Twitter had a field day with the photo showing Trump yelling at Schumer:

Modern day Rockwell. https://t.co/2yqCn1fh09

— Luke Russert (@LukeRussert) December 11, 2018

This is exactly why we need @NancyPelosi at the table – an experienced legislator to keep the boys in line. https://t.co/iIwVke7wTh

— adrienneelrod (@adrienneelrod) December 11, 2018

Hang this photo in a museum. https://t.co/drTEgqS6HH

— Javier Panzar ???? (@jpanzar) December 11, 2018

You could do an entire college course on this photo alone. https://t.co/Di8IZ6q3S3

— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) December 11, 2018

WATCH:

PELOSI drags TRUMP for threatening to shut down the government despite fact his party still controls the entire federal government!

"There are no votes, in the House, a majority of votes, for a wall. No matter where you start." pic.twitter.com/ndgIX9VjA3

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 11, 2018

As the meeting devolves into an argument, SCHUMER points out to TRUMP that his talking points about the border are incoherent — he's taking credit for securing the border while hyping a purported crisis there. pic.twitter.com/zUbqxUVPyT

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 11, 2018

SCHUMER dunks on TRUMP! "When the president brags that he won North Dakota and Indiana, he's in real trouble." pic.twitter.com/AK8vZIGya4

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 11, 2018

Trump on border-crossers: "People with tremendous medical difficulty and medical problems are pouring in and in many cases it's contagious."

SCHUMER responds by telling him: "Elections have consequences, Mr President." pic.twitter.com/cuST165Jpo

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 11, 2018