The U.S. Department of the Treasury is receiving backlash for its decision to print President Donald Trump’s name on the stimulus checks, especially from one lawmaker.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is slamming the department’s latest move, calling it “shameful.”
Pelosi explained the American people are “really desperate” to receive the stimulus checks as part of the $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief package signed into law by Trump.
Watch her comments below:
“Shameful.” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reacts to President Trump putting his name on paper stimulus checks. https://t.co/IVVzemAR4b pic.twitter.com/gwRK4O6HHn
— The Lead CNN (@TheLeadCNN) April 15, 2020
Stimulus checks could be delayed as a result of the department’s decision, as IJR previously reported. However, a representative for the department claimed the checks are on time as they were originally scheduled to go out next week.
Pelosi released an additional statement.
“Delaying direct payments to vulnerable families just to print his name on the check is another shameful example of President Trump’s catastrophic failure to treat this crisis with the urgency it demands,” the statement reads.
Trump responded to a reporter’s question about the checks during Wednesday’s White House coronavirus press briefing.
“Well, I don’t know too much about it but I understand my name is there,” Trump said, adding, “I do understand it’s not delaying anything and I’m satisfied with that.”
“I don’t imagine it’s a big deal. I’m sure people will be very happy to get a big, fat, beautiful check and my name is on it.”
Watch his comments below:
“I don’t know too much about it, but I understand my name is there,” Pres. Trump told @jonkarl when asked why his name was added to coronavirus relief checks.
— ABC News (@ABC) April 16, 2020
“I’m sure people will be very happy to get a big, fat, beautiful check and my name is on it.” https://t.co/4AQ0NVZ4rs pic.twitter.com/g253mwZjFI
Additionally, Pelosi listed three things the American people are growing angry with, including checks.
The first being that essential workers on the front lines combating the coronavirus do not have the equipment they need, including ventilators.
The second is the American people want their checks including their unemployment checks, direct payment checks, and their Payment Protection Program checks.
The final thing Pelosi says Americans do not want is for the billions going to businesses to be used for enriching shareholders, buybacks, dividends, bonuses, and pay for CEOs.
Pelosi closed the exchange reiterating the significance of testing in reopening the U.S. economy.
“The door opening, the threshold to cross into opening up our economy is testing, testing, testing,” Pelosi said.
