Trump Urges Congress to Amend “Wasteful” Coronavirus Aid Bill

On December 22, 2020, President Donald Trump released a video statement calling on Congress to amend the $900 billion coronavirus relief package that had been passed by the House and Senate the previous night. Trump argued that the 5,593-page bill was filled with wasteful spending on foreign aid, special interests, and unrelated items while providing American taxpayers with “only $600 each in relief payments.” He demanded that Congress increase the individual payment to $2,000 per person, or $4,000 per couple, and strip the bill of what he called unnecessary provisions.

“It’s called the COVID relief bill, but it has almost nothing to do with COVID,” Trump said. “Congress found plenty of money for foreign countries, lobbyists, and special interests while sending the bare minimum to the American people who need it.”

Foreign Aid and Unrelated Spending

Trump devoted much of the video to cataloguing specific line items in the omnibus spending package that accompanied the COVID relief bill. He cited $85.5 million for assistance to Cambodia, $134 million to Burma, and $1.3 billion for Egypt and the Egyptian military, which he said “will go out and buy almost exclusively Russian military equipment.” He also listed $25 million for democracy and gender programs in Pakistan and $505 million for Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.

Domestically, Trump questioned why the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., was receiving $40 million “which is not even open for business,” along with $1 billion for the Smithsonian and $154 million for the National Gallery of Art. “Likewise, these facilities are essentially not open,” he said.

The president also highlighted a series of smaller provisions that he presented as examples of misplaced priorities: $7 million for reef fish management, $25 million to combat Asian carp, $2.5 million to count the number of amberjack fish in the Gulf of Mexico, a provision to promote the breeding of fish in federal hatcheries, $3 million in poultry production technology, $2 million to research the impact of downed trees, and $566 million for construction projects at the FBI.

The $600 vs. $2,000 Debate

At the center of Trump’s objection was the amount of direct payments to American citizens. The bill as passed provided $600 per adult, which Trump called “ridiculously low.” He argued that the package should instead provide $2,000 per person or $4,000 per couple.

Trump also criticized a provision that he said allowed stimulus checks for the family members of illegal aliens, “allowing them to get up to $1,800 each. This is far more than the Americans are given.” He framed the contrast between foreign aid spending and domestic relief as evidence that Congress had its priorities wrong.

The president further noted that the bill did not provide enough support for small businesses, particularly restaurants. He objected to a provision that only gave restaurant owners a two-year deduction for business meals, arguing that the two-year period “must be withdrawn, which will allow the owners to obtain financing and get their restaurants back in condition.”

Political Context

Trump’s video statement came after months of stalled negotiations between congressional Democrats and Republicans over the size and scope of a second stimulus package. He blamed Democrats for “cruelly” blocking COVID relief legislation throughout the summer “in an effort to advance their extreme left-wing agenda and influence the election.”

The president’s demand for $2,000 checks created an unusual political alignment, with Democrats quickly agreeing to the higher figure while many congressional Republicans resisted the increased spending. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Democrats would bring a standalone bill to the floor to increase the payments to $2,000, and the House passed it on December 28, though it stalled in the Senate.

Trump ultimately signed the relief package on December 27, 2020, after a several-day standoff that temporarily caused a lapse in unemployment benefits for millions of Americans. He signed the bill while maintaining that Congress should pass additional legislation to increase the stimulus payments.

“I am asking Congress to amend this bill and increase the ridiculously low $600 to $2,000 or $4,000 for a couple,” Trump said. “I am also asking Congress to immediately get rid of the wasteful and unnecessary items from this legislation. And to send me a suitable bill or else the next administration will have to deliver a COVID relief package, and maybe that administration will be me. And we will get it done.”

Key Takeaways

President Trump called on Congress to increase COVID relief payments from $600 to $2,000 per person ($4,000 per couple), calling the passed bill “wasteful” and largely unrelated to COVID relief.
He catalogued billions in foreign aid to countries including Cambodia, Burma, Egypt, Pakistan, and Central American nations, as well as domestic spending on cultural institutions and obscure programs like amberjack fish counting.
Trump criticized the bill for allowing stimulus checks of up to $1,800 for families of illegal aliens while providing only $600 to American citizens.
He blamed Democrats for blocking relief throughout the summer and ultimately signed the bill on December 27 while continuing to push for higher direct payments.

Full Transcript

It’s called the COVID relief bill, but it has almost nothing to do with COVID. This bill contains $85.5 million for assistance to Cambodia, $134 million to Burma, $1.3 billion for Egypt and the Egyptian military, which will go out and buy almost exclusively Russian military equipment. $25 million for democracy and gender programs in Pakistan, $505 million to Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. $40 million for the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., which is not even open for business. $1 billion for the Smithsonian and an additional $154 million for the National Gallery of Art. Likewise, these facilities are essentially not open. $7 million for reef fish management, $25 million to combat Asian carp, $2.5 million to count the number of amberjack fish in the Gulf of Mexico. A provision to promote the breeding of fish in federal hatcheries. The bill also allows stimulus checks for the family members of illegal aliens, allowing them to get up to $1,800 each. This is far more than the Americans are given. Despite all of this wasteful spending and much more, the $900 billion package provides hardworking taxpayers with only $600 each in relief payments. Congress found plenty of money for foreign countries, lobbyists, and special interests while sending the bare minimum to the American people who need it. It wasn’t their fault. I am asking Congress to amend this bill and increase the ridiculously low $600 to $2,000 or $4,000 for a couple.

Throughout the summer, Democrats cruelly blocked COVID relief legislation in an effort to advance their extreme left-wing agenda and influence the election. Then a few months ago, Congress started negotiations on a new package to get urgently needed help to the American people. It’s taken forever. However, the bill they are now planning to send back to my desk is much different than anticipated. It really is a disgrace. For example, among the more than 5,000 pages in this bill, which nobody in Congress has read because of its length and complexity, it’s called the COVID relief bill, but it has almost nothing to do with COVID. This bill contains $85.5 million for assistance to Cambodia, $134 million to Burma, $1.3 billion for Egypt and the Egyptian military, which will go out and buy almost exclusively Russian military equipment, $25 million for democracy and gender programs in Pakistan, $505 million to Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama, $40 million for the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., which is not even open for business, $1 billion for the Smithsonian, and an additional $154 million for the National Gallery of Art. Likewise, these facilities are essentially not open. $7 million for reef fish management, $25 million to combat Asian carp, $2.5 million to count the number of amberjack fish in the Gulf of Mexico, a provision to promote the breeding of fish in federal hatcheries, $3 million in poultry production technology, $2 million to research the impact of down trees, $566 million for construction projects at the FBI.

The bill also allows stimulus checks for the family members of illegal aliens, allowing them to get up to $1,800 each. This is far more than the Americans are given. Despite all of this wasteful spending and much more, the $900 billion package provides hardworking taxpayers with only $600 each in relief payments, and not enough money is given to small businesses. And in particular, restaurants whose owners have suffered so grievously, they were only given a deduction for others to use in business, their restaurant, for two years. This two-year period must be withdrawn, which will allow the owners to obtain financing and get their restaurants back in condition. Congress can terminate it at a much later date, but two years is not acceptable. It’s not enough. Congress found plenty of money for foreign countries, lobbyists, and special interests while sending the bare minimum to the American people who need it. It wasn’t their fault. It was China’s fault, not their fault. I am asking Congress to amend this bill and increase the ridiculously low $600 to $2,000 or $4,000 for a couple. I am also asking Congress to immediately get rid of the wasteful and unnecessary items from this legislation. And to send me a suitable bill or else the next administration will have to deliver a COVID relief package, and maybe that administration will be me. And we will get it done. Thank you very much.

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