Trump asks Congress for $2,000 stimulus checks, criticizing COVID-19 relief package he was expected to sign
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- President Donald Trump on Tuesday criticized the COVID-19 relief package passed by Congress.
- In a video, he conflated the $900 package with another measure funding the federal government, criticizing the inclusion of foreign aid.
- The outgoing president also criticized the $600 stimulus checks as insufficient, asking Congress to increase the amount to $2,000.
- It is unclear if Trump would veto an unamended stimulus package. A White House spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
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President Donald Trump is belatedly criticizing the COVID-19 stimulus package that the White House earlier suggested he would support.
In a video tweeted Tuesday night, the lame-duck president conflated the $900 billion coronavirus relief measure with a $1.4 trillion omnibus measure, to which it was attached, funding the federal government, making it appear as if the recently negotiated package had included tens of millions of dollars in foreign aid he opposes.
He blamed Democrats alone for a months-long impasse - but the Democratic-controlled House approved two stimulus packages that stalled due to Republican opposition in the Senate, and the president himself called off negotiations in a pre-election tweet before trying to restart them.
Trump also criticized the $600 payments approved by Congress as insufficient.
"It really is a disgrace," he said, adding that he would be "asking Congress to amend this bill and increase the ridiculously low $600 to $2,000 dollars."
Earlier, however, a White House spokesperson had suggested Trump would sign the measure as it stood. "We look forward to Congress sending a bill to his desk imminently for signature," Ben Williamson told reporters on Sunday.
Trump did not say whether or not he would actually veto the measure if it is not altered. A White House spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
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