Trump Blocks Coronavirus Relief Negotiations Until Elections, Then Reverses Himself Hours Later

After signaling that he would not approve any coronavirus relief measures until after the Nov. 3 election, President Donald Trump reversed course Tuesday night and encouraged Congress to pass another round of $1200 stimulus checks just hours later.

“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?” Trump tweeted Tuesday night.

He added in another tweet that he would support “25 Billion Dollars” of funding for small businesses and the airline industry.

“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!” Trump tweeted.

Trump had written earlier in the day that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-California) proposal would be going to “bailout poorly run, high crime, Democrat States,” instead of supporting COVID-19 relief measures, calling on negotiations to be halted.

“Nancy Pelosi is asking for $2.4 Trillion Dollars to bailout poorly run, high crime, Democrat States, money that is in no way related to COVID-19,” Trump said earlier of the aid package passed by House Democrats last week. The bill would include $2.2 trillion of funding, not $2.4 trillion. “We made a very generous offer of $1.6 Trillion Dollars and, as usual, she is not negotiating in good faith. I am rejecting their request, and looking to the future of our Country.”

The president continued: “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 Business. I have asked Mitch McConnell not to delay, but to instead focus full time on approving my outstanding nominee to the United States Supreme Court, Amy Coney Barrett.”

Pelosi shot back in a statement after Trump initially paused talks, saying he “showed his true colors” and that he is “unwilling to crush the virus.”