Trump undercuts GOP, calls for bigger COVID-19 relief package

[left-of-center2012]

Source: The Hill

President Trump on Wednesday shook up the high-stakes debate over coronavirus relief, undercutting the Republicans' long-held position by urging GOP leaders to go big. Senate Republicans had initially offered a $1.1 trillion package in emergency aid, but subsequently voted on a proposal providing just $650 billion — only $350 billion of it in new funding.

On Wednesday morning, Trump stunned Washington by joining those Democratic critics by calling for Republicans to seek much more funding than they’ve previously proposed.

“Go for the much higher numbers, Republicans, it all comes back to the USA anyway (one way or another!),” Trump tweeted.

Minutes later, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, a key negotiator, said he was more “optimistic” about a potential for a deal than he had been in quite some time. "If the Speaker is willing to stay in, I'm willing to stay in, the Secretary [Mnuchin] is willing to stay in" and negotiate,” Meadows said during an appearance on CNBC.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/516680-trump-undercuts-gop-calls-for-bigger-covid-19-relief-package

[jorgevlorgan]

1. Cool hopefully they get somewhere soon

[flibbitygiblets]

2. I think this is what they call a Hail Mary

He is lacking in too many basic human qualities to mention, but what he is good at is reading his marks. He is a con in every way.

[LakeArenal]

3. Ha. Desperate enough to consider maybe helping people.

But it’s probably just optics at this point.

[Arkansas Granny]

4. I wonder how much the revelations in Woodward's book had to do with this.

He has to realize how damaging that will be.

[PatSeg]

17. Yes, that is very likely

He tends to be all over the place when it comes to policy. I'm glad he's going in this direction, but won't be surprised if he changes his mind at the last minute. He certainly cannot be trusted.

Hope he's driving congressional republicans crazy though!

[IronLionZion]

5. and spews complete falsehoods about Democrats

Democrats have howled at the GOP’s “emaciated” offer, arguing that it falls far short of the funding needed to address the dual crises of health and economy caused by the deadly coronavirus.

The president also took a shot at Democrats, accusing them falsely of opposing a new round of stimulus checks for individual families.

“Democrats are ‘heartless’. They don’t want to give STIMULUS PAYMENTS to people who desperately need the money, and whose fault it was NOT that the plague came in from China,” he said.

The Democrats’ $3.4 trillion Heroes Act had included that provision, and party leaders continue to press for those payments in whatever deal might emerge in the coming weeks.

[elleng]

6. PERFECT projection,

'Democrats are ‘heartless’. They don’t want to give STIMULUS PAYMENTS to people who desperately need the money, and whose fault it was NOT that the plague came in from China,” he said.

[Laelth]

7. The town hall shook up the Orange Menace.

He changed his tune quickly. I say, “Good.”

-Laelth

[duforsure]

8. trump and Moscow Mitch were the ones behind stalling ,now trumps trying to make it a pr event

To make himself look the the good guy, when the Democrats are the ones pushing for more.

[pandr32]

16. Well, if there is one thing it knows, it's pr.

He is a poser president--even with all his substance-void executive orders.

[pecosbob]

9. Just more bait and switch promises to his base

There's a significant portion out there that already actually credit him for relief in the form of unemployment. With this he can claim to support a stimulus for a week or two until the lie plays itself out when he will again blame Democratic politicians for it's failure.

[MissMillie]

10. BS alert

He'll find another way to take money away from struggling families. His filthy rich base needs another tax cut, you know.

[Javaman]

18. yup. on the nose...

he can't get them with facts so he dazzles them with bullshit. It's in his DNA

[msongs]

11. so will trumps photo be on relief checks this time? nt

[yaesu]

12. all bark, no bite. nt

[DeminPennswoods]

13. Meadows has been the problem from the start

He has his marching orders from Trump now which should mean he'll stop obstructing progress.

[Polybius]

15. Mitch is another big problem

Even if Trump orders him to send a potential deal to the Senate, he might not listen. Mitch doesn’t care about losing seats. He really hates giving money to the poor and middle class.

[Traildogbob]

20. Fuck turtle

Eliminate his request to give Devos’ cult schools tax money before anything. Just more rich socialistic giveaways. Pay fucking taxes before you request tax hand outs Beeeeeatch. Wasn’t 3/4 of a trillion untraceable Cash enough? Stimulus checks to PEOPLE at the top of any relief package. Kushner, Kanye, Cruise Ships, and Airlines, fuck you. File bankruptcy like turtle expects states to do.

[DeminPennswoods]

26. McConnell's mostly irrelevent here

The Rs will fall in line with what Trump wants. Then McConnell won't have a choice but to accede.

[Polybius]

14. Good

I need this relief bill to pass, so even though it’s for political reasons, it’s far better than him saying he wants a small bill.

Now, let’s get the message to Mitch.

[Traildogbob]

22. Like his health care plan

“2 WEEKS”. A Plan “The likes the world had never seen”. Like the Popeye Character. We will give you a plan “Next Tuesday”. Next Tuesday never comes. Ask any contractor that did a job for trump. The payment never comes. Telling the pre-existing lady last night, “1 have a plan ready”. If his Facial Anus is open, it is only, and always just shit coming out.

[Polybius]

23. Yeah, but this one has more of a chance at being true for one reason:

The election is right around the corner. Trump has zero to lose if he offers a 2 trillion dollar deal, he's not paying for it. He's hoping that it gets him a few suckers. He certainly won't lose any voters over this.

[Traildogbob]

24. That is correct

They never pay for their spending sprees. He can’t do it because of concerns for American citizens. Always just for his power. He can not EO it, and Mitch plus and hand full of Rand Paul’s in senate refuse a single penny. Lindsay Graham, “not a penny, over my dead body”. Well, that is a great negotiating start. I’m good with that. MAGA. Over his and Mitches bodies would be a fast tract to making us great.

[EndlessWire]

19. Saying it doesn't mean he's gonna do it.

Believe it when you actually get it. Otherwise, he gets the mileage without the effort.

So far, all show, no go.

[beachbumbob]

21. Too funny, why now and not 2 months ago?

[ToxMarz]

25. OK, I'll put $1200 back into my future budget calculations