WASHINGTON — President Trump appears to be floating the idea of rejecting the COVID relief bill that Congress passed this week.
In a video sent out on social media Thursday evening, Trump blasted the bill claiming that it provides too much money to foreign countries, special interests, and other unnecessary items while giving Americans “the bare minimum.”
The president is urging Congress to amend the bill to bring the amount of money each American will receive from $600 to $2000, or $4,000 for each family with children.
The relief package was part of a hard-fought compromise bill that includes $1.4 trillion to fund government agencies through September. It contains other end-of-session priorities such as money for cash-starved transit systems, an increase in food stamp benefits and about $4 billion to help other nations provide a COVID-19 vaccine for their people.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had a positive reaction to the president’s request on individual payments.
“Republicans repeatedly refused to say what amount the President wanted for direct checks,” she said on Twitter. “At last, the President has agreed to $2,000 — Democrats are ready to bring this to the Floor this week by unanimous consent. Let’s do it!”
The Senate cleared the package by a 92-6 vote after the House approved it by another lopsided vote, 359-53. Those votes totals would be enough to override a veto should Trump decide to take that step.
