Tipsheet

Speaker Pelosi Reacts to President Trump 'Walking Away' From Coronavirus Relief Negotiations

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi reacted to President Trump walking away from COVID-19 relief package negotiations, accusing the president of a “contempt for science” and “disdain for our heroes.”

“Walking away from coronavirus talks demonstrates that President Trump is unwilling to crush the virus, as is required by the Heroes Act.  He shows his contempt for science, his disdain for our heroes – in health care, first responders, sanitation, transportation, food workers, teachers, teachers, teachers and others – and he refuses to put money in workers’ pockets, unless his name is printed on the check,” she said in a statement. “At the same time, the President is abandoning meeting the needs of our children as they adjust to learning in-person, virtual or hybrid.  Instead, Trump is wedded to his $150 billion tax cut for the wealthiest people in America from the CARES Act, while he refuses to give real help to poor children, the unemployed and America’s hard working families.”

President Trump took to Twitter to pull his support from Congressional Democrats’ bad faith negotiation tactics, and instructed Senate Republicans to focus instead on confirming Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. He vowed that upon winning reelection, a relief package will be first on his agenda.

The California Democrat once agreed with President Trump, claiming that "something" is not better than "nothing" regarding an additional relief package. Speaker Pelosi did her best to add liberal wish-list items to legislation aimed at delivering economic relief to Americans in need.

Speaker Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin spent the past few months in negotiation talks in hopes of reaching a deal on an additional coronavirus relief package. Democrats repeatedly refused to compromise and torpedoed Republican-led legislation aimed at delivering relief to American families.