Trump rejects Democrats’ COVID-19 stimulus offer, meaning millions of voters will continue to suffer until after Election Day
President Donald Trump on Tuesday rejected a COVID-19 stimulus offer put forward by the Democrats to help millions of voters who continue to suffer from the devastating effects of the pandemic.
House Democrats last week passed a $2.2 trillion stimulus bill called the HEROES Act, 2.0. It was a slimmer version of the $3 trillion HEROES Act that was passed in May and blocked by Republicans due to the cost.
However, Trump tweeted that he had rejected even that slimmer version, saying negotiations should only resume after the November presidential election, when his fate would have been decided, with polls showing he would likely lose by a wide margin, according to the latest CNN poll that gave Democrat Joe Biden a 16-point lead.
“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. 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 @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 also coming back in record numbers. We are leading the World in Economic Recovery, and THE BEST IS YET TO COME!,” Trump tweeted.
With the rejection, Americans would head into the November election with the relief they expected.
Millions of Americans remain unemployed due to the pandemic and many businesses continue to let workers go, including the aviation industry.
USA Today noted that “Trump’s announcement comes as many of the benefits previously approved by Congress have already run out. The $600 federal boost to unemployment benefits ran out in July, a loan forgiveness program for small businesses also expired, and airlines have warned of mass layoffs and furloughs after their billions of dollars in federal payroll assistance expired.”
Simon Ateba is Chief White House Correspondent for Today News Africa. Simon covers President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, the U.S. government, the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other financial and international institutions in Washington D.C. and New York City.
