Washington: After a surprise move by President Donald Trump to wade into attack mode for the new COVID-19 relief package, which aims to send direct payments to Americans in the coming days, it’s unclear Wednesday what the next step in the process will be.
Trump assailed the relief bill late on Tuesday, denouncing the $600 stimulus payments for most Americans as insufficient and attacking parts of the attached $1.4 trillion omnibus spending bill as excessive and “wasteful.”
Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate minority leader Charles Schumer, have been quick to welcome larger stimulus payments — which Trump floated at $2,000 per person and $4,000 per couple.
Republicans, however, have largely been silent since Trump’s surprise video message.
Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., said Wednesday he was “speechless” about the president’s abrupt criticisms.
