President Donald Trump says Congressional Democrats are not negotiating “in good faith” on a new COVID-19 relief bill, and that he has instructed administration officials to stop negotiating until after the election.
In a tweet on Tuesday afternoon, Trump ripped House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif) for pushing for $2.4 trillion in a new COVID-19 relief bill to provide much-needed assistance to state and local governments.
“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. We made a very generous offer of $1.6 Trillion Dollars and, as usual, she is not negotiating in good faith,” Trump tweeted.
He continued, “I am rejecting their request, and looking to the future of our Country. 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.”
…request, and looking to the future of our Country. 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…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 6, 2020
…also coming back in record numbers. We are leading the World in Economic Recovery, and THE BEST IS YET TO COME!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 6, 2020
Additionally, the president said he asked Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) “not to delay, but to instead focus full time on approving my outstanding nominee to the United States Supreme Court, Amy Coney Barrett.”
“Our Economy is doing very well. The Stock Market is at record levels, JOBS and unemployment also coming back in record numbers. We are leading the World in Economic Recovery, and THE BEST IS YET TO COME!” he added.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged roughly 400 points shortly after Trump’s tweet.
Trump’s comments come after Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Pelosi recently restarted negotiations on a new bill.
Pelosi responded to Trump’s tweet, “President Trump showed his true colors: putting himself first at the expense of the country, with the full complicity of the GOP Members of Congress.”
“Walking away from the coronavirus talks demonstrates that President Trump is unwilling to crush the virus, as is required by the Heroes Act. He shows his contempt for science, his disdain for our heroes — in health care, first responders, sanitation, transportation, food workers, teachers.”
She continued to claim Trump is “abandoning” the needs of “our children as they adjust to learning in-person, virtual or hybrid.”
.@SpeakerPelosi response: “Clearly the White House is in complete disarray.” pic.twitter.com/DHm6jIKRyR
— Phil Mattingly (@Phil_Mattingly) October 6, 2020
Finally, she claimed the White House is in “complete disarray” and ignoring the “urgent warnings” of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell that “too little support would lead to a weak recovery, creating unnecessary hardship for households and businesses.”
The latest jobs report showed that the job growth slowed in September, which sparked concerns about the fate of the economic recovery as the virus continues to spread throughout the country.
On Sunday, Pelosi expressed some optimism about the negotiations as she said they were “making progress” on a new aide bill. However, for now, it appears it could be at least another month before a new relief bill is passed.