Donald Trump vetoes $740bn defence bill and sets up clash with Congress

U.S. President Donald Trump waves as he boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland

Credit: Reuters

Donald Trump vetoed a $740 billion annual defence bill on Wednesday night, setting up a major clash with Congress.

Mr Trump said the bill was a "gift to China and Russia" and "failed to include critical national security measures".

It raised the possibility that the annual National Defence Authorisation Act would fail to become law for the first time in 60 years.

However, this military bill passed the Senate and House of Representatives with larger than the two-thirds majorities, meaning his veto could be overridden. Some of his staunchest Republican supporters said they would vote to override his veto, which would delay a three per cent pay raise for troops.

Democrats and Republicans objected to Mr Trump’s veto of the National Defence Authorization Act.

"I look forward to overriding the president’s fruitless and ridiculous attempt to undermine our national security," Democratic Senator Mark Warner said in a statement.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jim Inhofe, a Republican, also blasted Mr Trump’s veto.

"The NDAA has become law every year for 59 years straight because it’s absolutely vital to our national security and our troops," Mr Inhofe said. "This year must not be an exception."

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Wednesday the House would return on Dec. 28 to vote on whether to override Mr Trump’s veto. That is the same day government funding is due to expire. A Senate vote is expected shortly thereafter.

The president has called for the bill to be stripped of language that allows for the renaming of military bases honouring Confederate leaders."

He has also called for the bill to be used to include limits on social media companies he claims are biased against him, and in a four-minute video address, lambasted "wasteful" spending in the bill, which included aid to foreign countries.

He went on to threaten to torpedo a $900 billion (£700 billion) coronavirus relief package unless Congress agreed to increase direct stimulus payments to ordinary Americans. The president demanded that proposed cheques of $600 to individuals and $2,400 for a family of four be bumped up to $2,000 and $4,000 respectively.

He said: "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."

He added: "Or else, the next administration will have to deliver a Covid relief package. And maybe that administration will be me."

If Mr Trump does not sign the bill, the US government would partially shut down on Dec 29.