President Donald Trump, in a stunning Tuesday night tweet, called the $900 billion Covid relief bill passed by Congress an unsuitable „disgrace“ and urged lawmakers to make a number of changes to the measure, including bigger direct payments to individuals and families.
Trump also suggested that his administration might be the „next administration,“ despite his loss to President-elect Joe Biden.
The relief legislation passed by Congress on Monday was negotiated in part by a senior Trump administration official, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. Trump himself had been absent from the talks since before the election. Lawmakers went home for the holidays after passing the bill.
The president’s tweet, which included a video of him discussing what he considers the bill’s many flaws, including funding headed overseas, came less than 24 hours after the Senate passed the measure. The foreign aid provisions are part of a $1.4 trillion measure to keep the government funded, which was paired with the Covid relief bill.
Trump did not threaten a veto in the video, and he had been expected to sign the legislation into law, along with the bill to keep the government open. The legislation passed both houses of Congress with veto-proof majorities.
„I am asking Congress to amend this bill and increase the ridiculously low $600 to $2,000, or $4,000 for a couple,“ Trump said in the video.
In another jarring twist, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, one of Trump’s political arch enemies, agreed with his call for $2,000 payments. „Democrats are ready to bring this to the Floor this week by unanimous consent. Let’s do it!“ she tweeted.
House Democrats, who hold a majority in the chamber, will seek to see if they can pass a measure for $2,000 direct payments by unanimous consent Thursday, Christmas Eve, according to a senior Democratic aide. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer did not specify the day, but said in a tweet that the vote would happen this week.
The House will be in a pro forma session, and it will only take one lawmaker to prevent its passage.
It’s not clear whether the larger direct payment would pass muster in the Senate, however. Several Senate Republicans have resisted higher stimulus payments.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., urged Trump to sign the current measure but said Democrats would be willing to vote for bigger stimulus checks.
„Trump needs to sign the bill to help people and keep the government open and we’re glad to pass more aid Americans need,“ Schumer tweeted.
The government will shut down Monday if Trump doesn’t sign the legislation.
A spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
The package includes increased jobless benefits, more small business loans, a direct payment of $600 to individuals, and funds to help distribute Covid-19 vaccines, among other things.
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