With more than 200 thousand dead and millions more left unemployed due to the virus that's upended daily life in the United States for virtually all of 2020, Americans are urging Congress to pass another stimulus.
Congress passed the CARES Act back in March, which was signed by President Donald Trump and sent most American adults $1200 in relief money.
Six months later, that money has largely evaporated and Americans need more relief.
Stalled talks between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and White House liaisons regarding the relief bill had largely stalled but were recently revived and making progress, only for Trump to call them off.
On Tuesday, Trump announced that he instructed his representatives to stop negotiations with Pelosi, assuring that he would push through a stimulus package after the November election, which he believes he'll win.
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...
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 6, 2020
...request, and looking to the future of our Country. 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. I have asked...
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 6, 2020
...@senatemajldr Mitch McConnell not to delay, but to instead focus full time on approving my outstanding nominee to the United States Supreme Court, Amy Coney Barrett. Our Economy is doing very well. The Stock Market is at record levels, JOBS and unemployment...
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 6, 2020
...also coming back in record numbers. We are leading the World in Economic Recovery, and THE BEST IS YET TO COME!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 6, 2020
Trump went on to say that he's instructed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to instead prioritize confirming Judge Amy Coney Barrett, Trump's nominee to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court.
Trump's instructions to McConnell are at odds with the concerns of the American people, 74 percent of whom called for Congress to take up additional pandemic relief before focusing on Barrett's confirmation.
Pelosi responded to the news by calling out the President.
Nancy Pelosi on Trump ending COVID negotiations: “Today, once again, President Trump showed his true colors: putting himself first at the expense of the country, with the full complicity of the GOP Members of Congress." pic.twitter.com/Cr5uMmKy55
— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) October 6, 2020
The statement reads in part:
"Today, once again, President Trump showed his true colors: putting himself first at the expense of the country, with the full complicity of the GOP Members of Congress. Walking away from [virus] talks demonstrates that President Trump is unwilling to crush the virus, as is required by the Heroes Act."
Like Pelosi, people were livid that Trump refused to continue relief talks until after the election.
He's telling millions of struggling Americans that they have to wait for help so he can instead rush through a Supreme Court nominee who'll vote to take away your health care during a deadly pandemic. https://t.co/Ta8yqLyMZc
— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) October 6, 2020
In other words, you get no money unless you elect me America. He got impeached for doing the same thing to Ukraine. @realDonaldTrump https://t.co/IBACtJXvuc
— NoelCaslerComedy (@CaslerNoel) October 6, 2020
Mark it down: On October 6, 2020, the president walked away from ongoing negotiations on a desperately-needed #COVID19 relief package.
He gets the best care in the world, then holds care for the rest of us hostage. "Want my help? I need you to do me a favor first. Re-elect me." https://t.co/du6HLvK8EV
— Rep. Gerry Connolly (@GerryConnolly) October 6, 2020
The President of the United States has taken the country hostage. He's holding a gun to our economy and with some regularity killing a few thousand of us with a new round of coronavirus disinformation. His agenda is a clear and present danger to the United States, by any measure. https://t.co/2eZRR9XsjN
— Seth Abramson (@SethAbramson) October 6, 2020
Soooo this is extortion, right? "If I win, Americans get a desperately needed bailout. If I don't, screw you until 2021." https://t.co/DdaAzuNChI
— Jill Filipovic (@JillFilipovic) October 6, 2020
Others were confused at how this move could possibly be politically beneficial for the President with less than a month before the November election.
So the homestretch strategy is
- turn the White House into a COVID superspreader
- block any more emergency COVID funds
- take away health insurance from 23 million in the middle of the pandemic
Got it. https://t.co/MI6W4bSujc
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) October 6, 2020
this is such a massive political gift to Biden and every Democrat running for Senate https://t.co/pEgerCC7E8
— Kevin Robillard (@Robillard) October 6, 2020
Wow, Trump is actually going to tank the stock market and household finances of many voters, trying to hold them hostage to his reelection. Does he actually think this will get more people to vote for him, rather than against him? As ever, Trump is the best Biden surrogate. https://t.co/husWa6eIfO
— (((Yair Rosenberg))) (@Yair_Rosenberg) October 6, 2020
As if his reelection wasn't already looking dismal he just said no stimulus until after the election. So I guess we'll get one next year with President Biden?
This SUNK his chances now.
Again.
Yes, vote obviously, but WOW. https://t.co/ISdJyDjHEl
— danieltrombley™♓🆘 (@MontanaDan30) October 6, 2020
The U.S. presidential election is on November 3rd.
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