Opinion

McConnell Cornered After Dems Immediately Agree to Trump’s Stimulus Changes

Mitch is now between a rock and a hard place.

December 23, 2020

President Trump issued a stern and specific video address to the nation on Tuesday night, after Congress passed a COVID-19 stimulus bill that the American people were infuriated with.

The $908 Billion bill contained only $100 million in direct assistance to the American public, with the remainder being spent overseas or for special interest programs here in the United States. In the package were $600 payments to Americans – a number that many on Twitter considered laughable.

Trump’s Tuesday night appearance implored Congress to review the bill, adding that he wouldn’t accept anything less than $2,000 direct payments to Americans. Democrats in Congress and elsewhere immediately agreed, putting Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in a tough spot.

Following Trump’s interjection, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi all but dared Trump’s Republican allies in Congress to meet the president’s demand for far higher payments.

“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!” Pelosi said in a tweet. An aide said she would put the proposal forward Thursday for a vote.

The demand had an impact far from Washington as well.

Trump’s threats to hold up the pandemic legislation could also complicate matters for Republicans in Georgia, where two runoff races to determine control of the Senate will be held in January. Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler have been running as ardent supporters of Trump and will now face questions about whether they will back his call for more money for Americans.

Jon Ossoff, Perdue’s Democratic opponent, tweeted simply on Tuesday night: “$2,000 checks now.”

McConnell will now be caught between a rock and a hard place, as his biggest ally in the White House and his political enemies in the Capitol are in agreement.

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