On Tuesday, President Donald Trump urged Congress to make changes in the nearly $900 billion stimulus bill that was passed just one day before. The POTUS deemed the legislation a "disgrace," indicating that he doesn't plan to immediately sign off on aid for millions of Americans.
Taking to his Twitter account on Dec. 23, Trump urged Congress to increase what he described as a "ridiculously low” $600 stimulus checks to $2,000. Moreover, he provided a slew of provisions in the overall package of legislation that he called wasteful spending and much more.
Trump tactfully avoided admitting that the idea for the $600 stimulus check was suggested by Steven Mnuchin, his own treasury secretary. In his tweet, he asked Congress to eliminate unnecessary items from this legislation and send him a suitable bill, failing which he threatened the next administration would have to deliver a COVID relief package and suggested that the administration will be him.
The video shocked Trump's own aides. Stock market futures stumped instantly amid the prospect that the economic aid may not be released at all. Congressional aides were understandably shocked as well, Washington Post reported.
The consequences of what happens next could be outrageous. If Trump refuses to sign the bill, the government will shut down on Dec. 29, and the $900 billion in emergency economic aid will be held back. On top of that, the race for the two Senate seats in Georgia could be overturned.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi responded to the president's tweet, saying congressional Democrats would move as soon as Thursday. The same day the house is slated to meet for a brief pro forma session to push on the $2,000 stimulus checks. In her tweet, Pelosi pointed out that Republicans repeatedly refused to reveal the amount Trump wanted for direct checks.
She went on to say that since the president has finally agreed to $2,000, Democrats are willing to bring this to the Floor this week via unanimous consent. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer also tweeted that he backs the idea of larger stimulus checks but accused Republicans of making sure they were not included in the bill.
In his tweet, Schumer noted that they spent several months in a bid to secure $2000 checks, but Republicans blocked it. He noted that Trump needs to sign the bill to help Americans and to ensure that the government remains open, adding that they are happy to pass more aid people need. He concluded the tweet suggesting Trump can finally make himself useful by making sure that Republicans do not block it again.