Lame-duck President Donald Trump threatened Tuesday night to torpedo months of bipartisan negotiations for a new coronavirus relief package by suggesting he will not sign it into law and demanding $2,000 in direct payments to families and individuals instead of the $600 payments earmarked in the bill.
Trump, in a tweeted video railing against Democrats and his loss to Joe Biden in November’s election, called the $900 billion package approved Monday by Congress “a disgrace,” adding that he preferred an increase of direct payments for most Americans from $600 to $2,000 for individuals and $4,000 for couples.
The Republican president also implored lawmakers to “get rid of the wasteful and unnecessary items from this legislation and to send me a suitable bill.”
His threat has larger implications: The coronavirus relief is part of a $2.3 trillion package that would fund the government through September. Should Trump not sign the package into law, the country faces a possible government shutdown at year’s end.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2020
