President Donald Trump has just ordered Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin “to stop negotiating until after the election” on a coronavirus relief package for millions of Americans still out of work and finding it increasingly difficult to put food on the tables. Instead, Trump says he has asked Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to work “full time” on getting Judge Amy Coney Barrett confirmed to the Supreme Court before Election Day.
Trump’s strategy is transparent. Latest polls put Joe Biden up to 16 points ahead of Trump nationally. His debate performance almost doubled Biden’s lead, and one poll found in interviewing respondents his contracting coronavirus worsened the results.
The markets tanked on the news, now down 400 points.
“Nancy Pelosi is asking for $2.4 Trillion Dollars to bailout poorly run, high crime, Democrat States, money that is in no way related to COVID-19. We made a very generous offer of $1.6 Trillion Dollars and, as usual, she is not negotiating in good faith,” Trump tweeted.
“I am rejecting their request, and looking to the future of our Country. I have instructed my representatives to stop negotiating until after the election when, immediately after I win, we will pass a major Stimulus Bill that focuses on hardworking Americans and Small Business. I have asked [Senate Majority Leader] Mitch McConnell not to delay, but to instead focus full time on approving my outstanding nominee to the United States Supreme Court, Amy Coney Barrett. Our Economy is doing very well. The Stock Market is at record levels, JOBS and unemployment also coming back in record numbers. We are leading the World in Economic Recovery, and THE BEST IS YET TO COME!”
Trump presumably is still on powerful corticosteroids.