Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday rallied behind a call from Donald Trump to increase the size of a $900bn stimulus package to boost the pandemic-hit US economy, setting up another year-end battle with Republicans over the scale of the relief bill.
In a surprise move that stunned his own party and advisers, Mr Trump on Tuesday evening rejected the stimulus bill as a “disgrace” and urged lawmakers to provide individual Americans with stimulus cheques of $2,000 — more than triple the currently agreed direct payment of $600.
The stimulus package passed with big majorities in both houses of Congress this week following months of negotiations, but Mr Trump’s intervention threatens to torpedo the compromise.