President Trump tweets video asking Congress to update COVID-19 relief package

A day after a deal was made, President Donald Trump tweeted a video Tuesday addressing the $900 billion COVID-19 relief package passed by Congress. He says he does not accept the contents of the legislation and asks Congress to send him a “suitable bill.”

“Among the 5,000 pages in this bill, which nobody in Congress has read because of its length and complexity,” Trump said in the video. “It’s called the COVID relief bill, but it has almost nothing to do with COVID.”

The president said he was unhappy with the $600 that will reportedly be allocated for Americans who will receive stimulus checks.

“I’m asking Congress to amend this bill and increase the ridiculously low $600 to $2,000 or $4,000 for a couple,” Trump said.

pic.twitter.com/v9Rdjz6DNu

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2020

The president detailed the millions to billions of dollars allocated for individual foreign countries in the relief package, sharing his displeasure with Congress. He went on to express unhappiness for how restaurants in the country were treated in relation to the stimulus package.

“Despite all this wasteful spending and much more, the $900 billion package provides hardworking tax payers with only $600 each in relief payments, and not enough money is given to small businesses and in particular restaurants, whose owners have suffered so grievously,” Trump said. “They were only given a deduction for others in business in restaurants for two years. This two-year period must be withdrawn, which will allow the owners to obtain financing and get their restaurants back in condition.”

The president also said Congress took “forever” to agree on this second stimulus deal, blaming Democrats for blocking legislation during negotiations in the summer and said it was, “in effort to advance their extreme left-wing agenda and influence the election.”

“The bill they are now planning to send to my desk is much different than anticipated,” Trump said. “It really is a disgrace.”

At the end of the recorded speech, the president said he wants Congress to revise the legislation and suggests his administration could be the one to carry it out when it’s re-submitted.

“I’m also asking Congress to immediately get rid of the wasteful and unnecessary items from this legislation and to send me a suitable bill, or else the next administration will have to deliver a COVID relief package,” Trump said. “And maybe that administration will be me, and we will get it done.”

In a retweet of President Trump’s video, Speaker Nancy Pelosi responded and blamed Republicans for lack of communication about stimulus money for the reason behind the $600 amount. She said she agrees with his wishes to see a higher amount for individual stimulus money to Americans and is ready to agree to $2,000 by “unanimous consent.”

Republicans repeatedly refused to say what amount the President wanted for direct checks. At last, the President has agreed to $2,000 — Democrats are ready to bring this to the Floor this week by unanimous consent. Let’s do it! https://t.co/Th4sztrpLV

— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) December 23, 2020

MORE:

• CNN – READ: Text of the new $900 billion stimulus bill
• CBS News – What’s in the $900 billion coronavirus relief bill passed by Congress?