Trump orders aides to stop Covid relief talks with Pelosi until after election
Donald Trump, still recovering from his coronavirus infection, announced on Monday he has ordered his team to halt negotiations with congressional Democrats towards another bill intended to provide relief to families and businesses hit hard by the pandemic.
“I have instructed my representatives to stop negotiating until after the election when, immediately after I win, we will pass a major Stimulus Bill that focuses on hardworking Americans and Small Business,” the president tweeted as he convalesced in the White House residence.
The talks between Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Speaker Nancy Pelosi have been stalled for months. Democrats are demanding all their requests be included in a mammoth bill with a price tag in the trillions. But Mr Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows have pushed a smaller bill around $1trn with fewer of each side’s demands.
The president has spent much of his first full day back at the White House after his coronavirus hospitalization tweeting about his Democratic foes and the news media. He appears to be in a foul mood, if his tweets are any indication.
Nancy Pelosi is asking for $2.4 Trillion Dollars to bailout poorly run, high crime, Democrat States, money that is in no way related to COVID-19. We made a very generous offer of $1.6 Trillion Dollars and, as usual, she is not negotiating in good faith. I am rejecting their......request, and looking to the future of our Country," Mr Trump wrote.
That prompted almost immediate ire from congressional Democrats.
Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chairman Mark Pocan blasted the president on Twitter for "holding relief for American families hostage."
Between now and the November elections, Americans "will lose their homes, lose their jobs & lose their healthcare because he refuses to act," Mr Pocan said.
"His selfishness is limitless," the Wisconsin Democrat said.
