Donald Trump's strategy appears unclear to some Republicans after his contradictory tweets
Credit: Manuel Balce Ceneta /AP
Donald Trump appeared to backtrack on his decision to end stimulus talks with Democrats in Congress, prompting anger and confusion from Republicans.
The US president abruptly ended negotiations for a coronavirus economic relief bill on Tuesday evening, taking many of his own party by surprise and causing US stocks to nosedive.
Mr Trump later rowed back the comments, suggesting he would support a few stand-alone bills to support airlines, small businesses as well as sending stimulus checks to struggling Americans.
The back and forth appears to have stymied some Republicans on Capitol Hill, with some, like congressman John Katko, publicly breaking with the president to "strongly urge" him to reconsider his comments.
Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic House Speaker, speculated that the steroid medication Mr Trump is taking to treat coronavirus could be altering his thinking. “Believe me, there are people… who think that steroids have an impact on your thinking. So, I don’t know,” she said on a call with Democrats after Mr Trump’s Tuesday night tweets.
If I am sent a Stand Alone Bill for Stimulus Checks ($1,200), they will go out to our great people IMMEDIATELY. I am ready to sign right now. Are you listening Nancy? @MarkMeadows @senatemajldr @kevinomccarthy @SpeakerPelosi @SenSchumer
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2020
For months, Mr Trump has sought to enact a second stimulus package to boost Americans’ finances ahead of November’s presidential election and it remains unclear why he abruptly gave up on talks on Tuesday.
The first round of economic relief led to almost $3 trillion being pumped into the US economy through direct payments to Americans, enhanced unemployment benefits and small business loans.
Many of those payments have now expired but for months Democrats and Republicans have remained at loggerheads over the size of a second round of stimulus payments.
Democrats have proposed a package of relief totalling around $2.2 trillion. Republicans have balked at the cost, insisting the second round of government spending should be capped between $800 billion and $1.5 trillion.
One of the biggest sticking points between the White House, which had backed a $1.6 trillion bill, and Democrats was how to handle the major budget crises facing state governments. Democrats wanted to approve a package of assistance for states, an idea Mr Trump opposes.
Mark Meadows, the White House chief of staff, insisted on Wednesday that the Trump administration was "still willing to be engaged" on aid negotiations, but added "I’m not optimistic for a comprehensive deal".
It comes as polls show Mr Trump’s support is plummeting among older voters, particularly in battleground states. An NBC/Wall Street Journal poll released on Sunday, found that Joe Biden, Mr Trump’s Democratic opponent, led the president by 27 points among seniors, while a CNN/SSRS poll released on Tuesday found that Mr Trump was 21 points behind Mr Biden.
Pollsters have suggested Mr Trump’s widening deficit among older voters is largely down to disapproval of the president’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, which has claimed more lives among Americans aged over 65 than any other age group.
Meanwhile Mr Trump’s own coronavirus diagnosis has caused chaos at the White House, where a growing number of senior officials have also tested positive for the virus.
Mr Trump was working out of makeshift office space on the ground floor of the White House residence, in close proximity to the White House medical team, with only a few aides granted a face-to-face audience. First lady Melania Trump, who has also tested positive for Covid-19, was isolating upstairs in the White House residence.
Mr Trump’s chief of staff has suggested the president will return to work in the Oval Office from Wednesday, with extra precautions put in place to protect staff who come into close proximity with him.
According to a leaked memo seen by the Washington Post, staff have been told to limit their presence in the West Wing and the White House residence.
Stephen Miller is the latest close aide to the president to test positive
Credit: Reuters
Those who are required to visit the Oval Office or the residence, where Mr Trump lives and holds meetings, must visit an "isolation cart" to don personal protective equipment before entering. The equipment includes yellow gowns, surgical masks, protective eyewear and gloves.
However the rising number of cases within the West Wing has caused anxiety among employees, where more than a dozen staff have tested positive.
Mr Trump’s chief immigration adviser, Stephen Miller, is the latest senior aide to test positive for Covid-19.
The White House press shop is also operating on a skeletal staff with the press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, and four others in the press team quarantining after testing positive.
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