White House officials say they have begun preliminary talks internally — and with Democratic lawmakers — about areas where they could work together in 2019.

They also say the ball is in the Democrats’ court.

“The president’s always ready to deal. Always,” Shahira Knight, the White House legislative director, said in an interview with The Hill.

The president famously reached a budget deal late last year with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-Calif.) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), much to the chagrin of GOP leaders in Congress.