🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur.
More than six months after signing the bipartisan Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act into law, President Donald Trump announced negotiations for another stimulus package would cease until after November's election.
Discussions about the details of a second round of relief funding, which were ongoing over the summer, stalled in August and September as congressional Democrats, Republicans and White House negotiators struggled to find common ground.
House Democrats passed two bills outlining relief funds for another stimulus package since the CARES Act launched at the end of March. Republicans have pushed back against both proposals.
Trump repeatedly says he supports another round of stimulus checks to individuals but opposes other areas of Democratic proposals. He has suggested several times that congressional Democrats aim to "bail out" Democrat-led states with stimulus funding. Here is a closer look at the president's comments about a second stimulus package over the past three months.
October 6
Trump took to Twitter on Tuesday night with a series of announcements about future stimulus funding, about one week after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi rejected the White House's $1.6 trillion offer, calling it insufficient. The president said he suspended negotiations regarding the terms of another relief package until after Election Day.
"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 Businesses," Trump wrote in one of several tweets.
Later, the president said he was ready to sign a "standalone bill" authorizing distribution of direct stimulus payments to individuals "immediately." He also suggested allocating unused CARES Act funding to support airline payroll expenses and bolster the Paycheck Protection Program.
If I am sent a Stand Alone Bill for Stimulus Checks ($1,200), they will go out to our great people IMMEDIATELY. I am ready to sign right now. Are you listening Nancy? @MarkMeadows @senatemajldr @kevinomccarthy @SpeakerPelosi @SenSchumer
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2020
The House & Senate should IMMEDIATELY Approve 25 Billion Dollars for Airline Payroll Support, & 135 Billion Dollars for Paycheck Protection Program for Small Business. Both of these will be fully paid for with unused funds from the Cares Act. Have this money. I will sign now!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2020
September 7
After Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell proposed a "skinny" Republican stimulus package that drew criticism from Democrats, Trump suggested the opposing party was reluctant to reach a deal because passing another relief bill would benefit his re-election campaign.
"They don't want to make a deal because they know that's good for the economy. And if they make a deal that's good for the economy, and therefore it's good for me for the election in November—November 3rd, and therefore they're not going to make a deal," the president told reporters at a press conference.
Senate Democrats were quick to point out their opposition to the GOP's stripped-down relief proposal was rooted in the structure of the bill itself. On September 20, Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto called the bill an "insult to the American people" and said it lacked "critical funding" to individuals, medical facilities and state and local governments.
September 4
Now, we have $300 billion in a—an account that we didn't use—$300 billion. And we are willing to use that. I would be willing to release it, subject to Congress, and use that as stimulus money, and it would go right to the American people. So we have $300 billion sitting in an account that we didn't need because things are going so well with the economy," Trump said during a press conference at the White House on September 4.
August 15
"I want to give money to the people. I want to put money into the people's hands," Trump said at a press conference in Bedminster, New Jersey, amid stalled negotiations between Republicans and Democrats over the details of another stimulus package. The president suggested Democrats' funding proposal aimed to support states with Democratic leaders.
"When it's right, I'll meet. But right now it's not right. They want $1 trillion to bail out badly-run states. They're Democrat-run states," the president continued. "Will something happen? Possibly. But I want to tell you, the country is doing very well right now. We can live very happily with it or without [another stimulus package]."
August 11
Soon after stimulus negotiations reached a standstill, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters: "The president would love to see the direct payments to Americans. The president would love to see school funding. There are several items [included in another stimulus package] we would like to see happen."
July 1
Trump discussed his position regarding another round of direct stimulus payments during an interview with the Fox Business Network.
"I do, I support it. But it has to be done properly...I actually support larger numbers than the Democrats," he said. "I want the money getting to people to be larger so they can spend it. I want the money to get there quickly and in a non-complicated fashion."
Newsweek reached out to the White House for additional comments but did not receive a reply in time for publication.
