Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) on Monday will make his first visit to the White House since starting his new job, his office said.
Ryan's trip to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. is for a social occasion, a congressional ball, but it's also a chance to cross paths with President Obama at a time when the two leaders are at odds on a number of key issues, including government funding and the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
The White House and Democrats have sparred with Republican leaders in Congress over a must-pass spending bill. Obama aides have accused Ryan of threatening a government shutdown by attaching controversial policy riders to the year-end government funding measure. Lawmakers have until Dec. 11 to pass the measure to avert a potential shutdown.
Ryan's visit to the White House comes one day after he and other Republicans slammed Obama's Oval Office address on his plans to destroy ISIS, which was tied to recent terror attacks in Paris and California.
The Speaker last week pledged the Republican Congress would push sweeping policy measures, including a replacement for ObamaCare, even if the president opposes them.
Despite those differences, both Ryan and Obama have expressed a desire to work together on policy areas where they have common ground, such as trade and a long-shot bid for tax reform.
“I think you can walk and chew gum at the same time. I think you can oppose the president on some issue that you fundamentally disagree with but also work with the other party on issues you do agree with,” Ryan said in a Nov. 19 interview with CBS News's "60 Minutes."
Despite having not met in person since Ryan was elected Speaker in October, the two leaders have spoken several times by phone. “We talked about having teenage daughters too,” Ryan added.
The White House said last month that Ryan and Obama will likely have a public, one-on-one meeting at some point in the near future.
"I also anticipate we’ll satisfy your desire for a showy, public sit-down of some kind, so we’ll get to work on that," White House press secretary Josh Earnest joked to reporters.
But that moment will have to wait. Monday night's reception for members of Congress is closed to the press.
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