President Donald Trump slammed Senate Republicans and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for blocking a vote Tuesday to increase the coronavirus relief payments in the latest COVID-19 aid package from $600 to $2,000.
Trump warned that Republicans have a “death wish” if they do not approve of the $2,000 payments in a tweet sent shortly after McConnell blocked Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s attempt to unanimously pass a bill to increase the direct payments.
Unless Republicans have a death wish, and it is also the right thing to do, they must approve the $2000 payments ASAP. $600 IS NOT ENOUGH! Also, get rid of Section 230 – Don’t let Big Tech steal our Country, and don’t let the Democrats steal the Presidential Election. Get tough! https://t.co/GMotstu7OI
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 29, 2020
“Unless Republicans have a death wish, and it is also the right thing to do, they must approve the $2000 payments ASAP. $600 IS NOT ENOUGH!” he tweeted.
Before Trump’s tweet, Republican Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley responded to the news that both Republican Georgia Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue were in favor of the $2,000 direct payments by saying the Senate should vote Tuesday on approving the increase.
We’ve got the votes. Let’s vote today https://t.co/woFBHPMSjz
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) December 29, 2020
The House passed a bill Monday night to increase the coronavirus relief payments. In a 275-134 vote, the House passed the bill, which the Senate will need to approve. The House needed a two-thirds majority for it to pass.
Trump originally recommended the $2,000 payment, but then signed the $2.3 trillion COVID-19 relief and government funding package, which would give $600 dollars to Americans.
“To vote against this bill is to deny the financial hardship that families face and to deny them the relief they need,” Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said in a statement. (RELATED: ‘We Need New Leadership’ — Ocasio-Cortez Blasts Pelosi, Schumer)
“The House will pass a bill to give Americans $2,000 checks. Then I will move to pass it in the Senate. No Democrats will object. Will Senate Republicans?” Schumer tweeted Sunday. (RELATED: Top Senate Dem Slams Pelosi Over Delays On COVID-19 Relief Deal)
Trump said Sunday he wants Congress to focus on giving the American people $2,000 checks.
“As President, I have told Congress that I want far less wasteful spending and more money going to the American people in the form of $2,000 checks per adult and $600 per child,” Trump said in a statement after signing the bill Sunday, deputy press secretary Judd Deere tweeted.
Six senators voted against the original legislation, which passed the Senate 92-6.