President Donald Trump Delays Talks For Second Stimulus Check Until After The Election

(Photo: Doug Mills/The New York Times)

President Trump blocks COVID-19 stimulus bill

President Trump took to Twitter during his quarantine to confirm he is intentionally shutting down talks over the second stimulus checks and unemployment insurance. Trump confirmed that he is delaying the preelection relief bill and is trying to convince Congress to confirm his Supreme Court nominee.

At the end of July, the last coronavirus (COVID-19) aid bill expired and ended federal unemployment benefits that millions of Americans relied on during the pandemic. President Trump disclosed that he is directing his staff to cease negotiations until after the election.

Trump is also instructing the Senate to confirm his Supreme Court nominee, Amy Coney Barrett. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi were scheduled to meet with President Trump for negotiations but Pelosi’s spokesman, Drew Hammill, confirmed that Trump walked away from the negotiation meeting.

Following this announcement, the stock market took a hit with the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping 240 points while President Trump is using the markets as a platform for his reelection campaign. President Trump also promised that he will pass the Stimulus Bill after the election to help “hardworking American and Small Businesses.”

The proposed aid package would have covered funding for the second round of stimulus checks for $1,200 for individuals, money for COVID-19 testing, better unemployment benefits, aid for the airline industry, and billions in assistance funding for small businesses. Though this seemed nearly impossible to pass before the election, President Trump has confirmed it’s probably not going to happen.