The next two years of US government in one dramatic Oval Office scene

Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images

Updated 1:24 PM EST, Wed December 12, 2018

The dramatic scene that unfolded in the Oval Office Tuesday was a one-act reality play previewing the next two years in Washington. It brought out in public the normally behind-closed-doors interplay between the President of the United States and newly empowered and soon-to-be House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The way math works in Washington, Trump will need Pelosi to pass any piece of legislation between now and Election Day in 2020.

The issue of the day was whether more border security funding would be required to avoid a government shutdown later this month, and whether Trump's border wall would be included in border security funding.

The major takeaways are, first, that Trump said he would happily partially shut down the government over funding for his border wall. And second, if there were any doubt that Pelosi would be speaker, the opposition within her party was crushed by a strong performance literally in the face of the President.

There was so very much going on during the televised portion of the meeting, that it's worth taking a very close look.

First, the staging. Trump and White House aides put Trump and Pence in sturdy high-backed chairs facing directly at the cameras in the Oval Office. Pelosi and Schumer were placed in profile on the sides, on soft couches. That's a bit of a power play.

Trump was constantly leaning forward, sitting at the edge of his seat and using his hands to gesticulate and interrupt. He leaned toward both Pelosi and Schumer, but he seemed to spend most of the time leaning very directly at Schumer, who, for the most part, looked not at Trump, but at Pelosi. In this image, Trump's hands are helping him make a point, while Schumer's are clenched.

Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post/Getty Images

Despite the disadvantage of her soft seat, Pelosi sat ramrod straight, projecting strength right back at Trump. When Trump said, "Nancy is in a situation where it's not easy for her to talk right now, and I understand that," referring to her upcoming leadership election, Pelosi pushed back. "Mr. President, please don't characterize the strength that I bring to this meeting as the leader of the House Democrats who just won a big victory," she shot back at him.

Michael Reynolds/EPA-EFE

Schumer's body language was very interesting throughout the meeting, as he slouched forward and nodded his head during Trump's comments, clasping his hands and letting Trump speak. But after a barb about the 2018 midterms seemed to get under Trump's skin, Schumer drew from Trump this pledge: "I am proud to shut down the government for border security, Chuck."

Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

Out of view of the cameras were staffers from both sides. Here is a phalanx of White House staffers, apparently watching the exchange with as much anticipation as those of us who saw it on TV. Note that White House communications director and former Fox News executive Bill Shine is looking at the cameras in this photo, while outgoing White House chief of staff John Kelly and presidential advisers -- and daughter and son-in-law -- Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner are looking at the leaders.

Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post/Getty Images

The most intriguing participant in the meeting may have been Vice President Mike Pence, who said nothing. Rather, he routinely closed his eyes and seemed to be retreating as his boss did verbal battle with the Democrats. You also see here Trump's direct and near-constant focus on Schumer rather than Pelosi.

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Trump's contentious meetings with lawmakers have been reported before. Remember the <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/01/11/politics/immigrants-shithole-countries-trump/index.html" target="_blank">"s#$%hole countries"</a> episode? He's also brought in cameras for meetings that were supposed to be private. But this was a rare occasion in which reporters and cameras were brought into an Oval Office meeting that veered so wildly off-script and turned contentious, for full display on TV.

Trump's contentious meetings with lawmakers have been reported before. Remember the "s#$%hole countries" episode? He's also brought in cameras for meetings that were supposed to be private. But this was a rare occasion in which reporters and cameras were brought into an Oval Office meeting that veered so wildly off-script and turned contentious, for full display on TV.

Andrew Harnik/AP

Who will replace Kelly as chief of staff and be left to help manage Trump is a very open and important question. His concerned, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2017/08/16/john-kelly-reaction-president-trump-speech-orig-alee.cnn" target="_blank">intent, face-in-hands expressions during Trump events have been scrutinized before</a>. Now, as a short-timer, pushed out by an unhappy boss, what must he be thinking about his service at the White House?

Who will replace Kelly as chief of staff and be left to help manage Trump is a very open and important question. His concerned, intent, face-in-hands expressions during Trump events have been scrutinized before. Now, as a short-timer, pushed out by an unhappy boss, what must he be thinking about his service at the White House?

Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post/Getty Images

When Pelosi or Schumer did talk and counter his points, Trump would purse his lips and stare ahead. Even if there aren't any more meeting like this over the next two years of divided government in Washington, there will certainly be a lot more talking past each other.

Evan Vucci/AP