According to Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, President Donald Trump’s executive actions are no more than a distraction from ongoing negotiations in Congress over the next coronavirus relief package.
Appearing on MSNBC’s “AM Joy,” Clinton challenged Trump’s executive orders.
“It’s a stunt. There’s no doubt about it. It’s most likely, as even Republican senators have said, unconstitutional, bypassing the Congress, trying to spend money that he has no authority to direct,” Clinton said.
She added. “But it’s also meant to be a big diversion from the hard work the Congress should be engaged in to provide the kind of relief that tens of millions of Americans need.”
Watch her comments below:
Sec. @HillaryClinton: #Trump sent a signal to voters that if you are unfortunately unlucky enough to have him be president again you can watch what he's going to do to Social Security and Medicare. It's going to hurt not just elderly Americans, but every American. #AMJoy pic.twitter.com/ZykgNYxdPa
— MSNBC LIVE (@msnbcevents) August 9, 2020
Trump signed the executive orders on Saturday after negotiations hit an impasse, as IJR previously reported.
The series of executive orders allow for unemployment relief, a payroll tax cut, a moratorium on evictions, and an extended suspension on interest on student loan payments, as IJR previously reported.
Clinton noted many Americans are still unemployed and small businesses have taken a hit as the coronavirus pandemic has rocked the nation.
She argued Trump indicated he is “going after” social security and Medicare through the payroll tax.
Clinton reiterated Trump’s executive actions are simply diversions and they will ultimately hurt Americans in the long run.
“So, yes, it was a stunt. Most likely unconstitutional. He doesn’t really have the authority to do what he tried,” Clinton said.
She added, “But he sent a signal to voters that, you know, if you were, unfortunately, unlucky enough to have him be president again, you can watch what he is going to do to Social Security and Medicare. And it’s going to hurt not just elderly Americans but every American.”
Trump’s executive orders come as the number of coronavirus cases in the United States has reached more than 5 million.