President Trump has unexpectedly made a turn and declared sides with Democrats lawmakers on the debt ceiling proposal, thereby shocking GOP leaders who proposed a contrary deal, The Hill reports.

• The details of the meeting

During the meeting held at the White House on Wednesday between the President, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Speaker Paul Ryan, Senate and House minority leaders, Charles Schumer(D-NY) and Nancy Pelosi(D-Calif) respectively. The essence of the meeting was to discuss how to provide aid for the Hurricane Harvey victims and avoid a government shutdown in the process by raising the debt ceiling.

Democrats leaders insisted on a package that ensures Harvey relief package with a three-month debt ceiling as against the 24-month wish of the GOP leaders. In a bid to find a common ground, the GOP leaders agreed to a six-month debt ceiling but were stunned when their Democrat counterparts failed to reconsider and were hell bent on their initial proposal which forced the Republicans to whistle out of the deal.

• Finalised agreement

After arguing back and forth with the Republicans threatening to whistle out of any deal, President Trump interjected and resolved to accept their proposal which will provide Harvey relief package, a three months debt ceiling and allow government further spending – a deal which left Republicans in despair and Democrats expressing glee, as Speaker Ryan had initially branded the Democrat’s wish as unreasonable and accused them of playing politics.

The deal thus leaves Congress with an imminent responsibility of approving a package that would include $7.85 billion targeted toward Hurricane Harvey and would raise the debt ceiling and fund the government through Dec. 15.

• Ensued reactions and comments

Aboard Air Force One, on his way to North Dakota to speak about Tax reform just after the meeting with the leaders, President Trump told reporters that, “We essentially came to a deal, and I think the deal will be very good”.

Expressing happiness over the deal, the White House legislative director, Marc Short also aboard Air Force One said, “We believe that helping to clear the decks in September enables us to focus on tax reform for the American people. We need to get the economy growing again, and that’s what we need to focus on.”Senate Minority Leader, Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.)

Senate Minority Leader, Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) labelled the deal as a “happy ending” that was for the “good of the nation.”

Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), the House Freedom Caucus’s chairman in support of Trump’s move said, “I think there were no conservative solutions offered to the president in relation to addressing the debt ceiling”. But also suggested that the deal “would not lead to a better outcome for Republicans in December, when Congress will be confronted with new deadlines to raise the debt ceiling and keep the government open”.

“If this plays into a long-term strategy that has conservative wins, I’m willing to reconsider. At this point, I don’t see that end-game being very obvious”, Meadows added.

However, Senate Majority Leader, McConnell said he would support the agreement which he called a “deal between the president and the Senate and House Democratic leadership.”

The Senate leader said, “The president agreed with Sen. Schumer and Congresswoman Pelosi to do a three-month [continuing resolution] and a debt ceiling. … We’ll try to get 60 votes and move forward.