The coronavirus pandemic has forced the United States into lockdown while also resulting in an economic collapse, leading lawmakers in Congress to continuously develop stimulus packages since then. Now, Donald Trump is placing pressure on the House to pass the new coronavirus stimulus as soon as possible.
The Trump administration and the Democrat-controlled Congress are currently at odds in meeting in the middle for a new coronavirus stimulus. Trump took to Twitter to push the House and the administration to pass the new stimulus, as he receives treatment for COVID-19 at Walter Reed Medical Center.
“OUR GREAT USA WANTS & NEEDS STIMULUS. WORK TOGETHER AND GET IT DONE. THANK YOU!” tweeted Trump.
Republicans and Democrats have been at odds in coming up with the new stimulus to keep the country’s economy afloat as well as health care. Republicans raised concerns about runaway spending while Democrats have pushed for sweeping federal relief for Americans who have been affected by the pandemic. But despite the concerns, Republicans in the Senate may now be compelled to reach a stimulus deal by the end of the week because of the pressure placed on Trump.
The push for a new stimulus deal follows a weak jobs report in September paired with many companies laying off employees or giving unpaid leaves of absences this week. House Democrats passed a $2.2 trillion stimulus relief while the White House proposed a $1.6 trillion deal. Both sides had a mutual agreement on aspects covered in the new relief deal such as making direct payments to Americans, small business loans, and financial aid to airlines to cover payrolls and preventing furloughs of employees.
Since testing positive for COVID-19, many politicians from both sides and other world leaders have expressed their well-wishes to Trump and first lady Melania Trump. Among them is Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Speaking to reporters in a news conference last week after news of Trump’s diagnosis, Trudeau expressed his support for the Trumps in being able to make a recovery from COVID-19, noting how they reached out to wish his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau well, when she previously tested positive several months back.