Mnuchin Says Adding Trump’s Name To Stimulus Checks Was His Idea, Could Take 6 Months To Deliver

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said on Sunday that it was his idea, not President Donald Trump’s, to print the president’s name on the coronavirus stimulus checks, adding it’s “a terrific symbol” for Americans. 

“We did put the President’s name on the check. That was my idea. He is the President and I think it’s a terrific symbol to the American public,” Mnuchin told CNN’s Jake Tapper. 

When asked about his name on the coronavirus stimulus checks, Trump said, “Well, I don’t know much about it, but I understand my name is there. I don’t know where they’re going, how they’re going.” 

“I’m sure people will be very happy to get a big, fat, beautiful check and my name is on it,” the president said, adding that “it’s not delaying anything.”

Two senior Treasury officials told the Washington Post that printing the President’s name on the stimulus checks would set back the delivery date, but the Internal Revenue Service said it would not result in any delays. 

Mnuchin added that Trump, “could have been authorized to sign the checks,” but that it “would have slowed things down. We didn’t want to do that.”

According to a memo from the  House Ways and Means Committee, the checks will be printed at about five million per week, and could take up to 20 weeks to issue every check. 

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