Donald Trump pulled the rope all he could, but it ended in the end to give under strong pressure from lawmakers – even his own party – and carried out the massive Sunday night aid package for Americans affected by the coronavirus crisis, which the president described as “a shame.” At the end of the deadline, Trump extended the benefit to millions of people and businesses affected by the pandemic and ultimately averted – economic, social and political – chaos of unimaginable magnitude.
The legislative package will set aside about $ 900 billion for vaccine distribution, funding for US schools, small businesses, hospitals and families, and the money needed to keep the government open for the remainder of the fiscal year. The aid had been approved by both Democratic and Republican lawmakers last Monday, but Trump declined to enact it on the grounds that he considered it a “disgrace” and, among other things, wanted Americans to receive $ 2,000 in cash. instead of 600 provided by law.
Finally, Trump sanctioned it less than 48 hours after the government closed for lack of funds and a few days before a moratorium on expulsion and other fundamental relief measures due to the pandemic expired, which already records 19 million cases in the United States. and 333,000 dead. But it also came after two unemployment programs fell due to a lack of legal support, delaying benefits for millions of unemployed Americans.
Trump signed the law less than 48 hours after the administration closed for lack of funds. Photo: AP
When everything ran smoothly, the crisis it was generated by Trump himself. In a move that surprised lawmakers and White House officials, the president launched in a video an implicit threat to veto the package, which his top lawmakers had helped negotiate and which was passed by both houses of Congress. adopted with overwhelming bipartisan support. last Tuesday. The bloated legislative plan – 5,593 pages – had flown to Florida on Thursday, where the president is spending his end-of-year vacation, and had waited in vain for the Trump accord ever since. Only on Sunday evening did he finish it.
The president, who has not yet acknowledged Joe Biden’s victory and continues to argue without evidence that the November 3 election was “stolen” from him, played the card of increasing direct aid to Americans because it would. a political gesture faced with his possible application in 2024, and that it would also be free for him because the weight of this expense has to be paid the future government from Biden.
Besides, the president search for voices for a pivotal election on Jan. 5 in Georgia, where Trump needs the triumph of two Republican senators to rejoice after his November defeat, but most importantly to secure the majority in the national senate that would fall into Democratic hands if they losses in Georgia.
Republican lawmakers, who had been fighting in Congress for weeks over the aid package, welcomed the deal reached, which was overseen by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin himself. But they were surprised to see Trump, who had been silent during the talks, knock everything apart in a minute.
In Washington it is enormous paradox that a republican president demanded to increase government spending with direct controls to the citizens, when this party is one fierce enemy of subsidies and a supporter of tax cuts. Some lawmakers from the more progressive wing of the party, such as Alexandra Ocasio Cortez and Bernie Sanders, welcomed Trump’s idea of increasing profits.
But from the most conservative Republican ranks they shouted, “He wants to give $ 2,000 in individual checks because the money is not his. That’s socialism, ”roared former National Security Advisor John Bolton.
Trump’s turn came after a day telephone calls of governmental and opposition legislators, who tried to prevent social and economic disaster, especially for the population most vulnerable. “I understand you want to be remembered for pushing for greater controls, but the danger is that you will be remembered for chaos and misery and erratic behavior if you let it expire,” said Republican Senator Pat Toomey.
Most of all, the Republican congressmen told him they were not willing to raise subsidies: Trump I would bear the political weight that the government was shut down during the pandemic and that millions of benefits for the most vulnerable had fallen hopelessly by the end of the year, just before the elections in Georgia.
The president had no choice but to give in. In his statement Sunday, Trump continued to push for checks intended for taxpayers in the greatest financial difficulties to be raised to more than three times the originally negotiated $ 600, but he didn’t say how. He also again criticized that the plan included spending too much on programs unrelated to the pandemic. However, he did not say why he waited for the text to be approved to make his position public.
Washington, correspondent