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Will Mitch McConnell OK Donald Trump's $2000 stimulus check demand? Internet says POTUS did it to 'spite' him

It’s not likely that Congress, including McConnell, would go for more than triple the amount of the $600 stimulus check that was approved

President Donald Trump threatened to be a major hindrance in Congress granting the Covid-19 relief package, in the midst of the ongoing crippling coronavirus pandemic that has been wreaking havoc across the world for over a year now. He demanded changes that fellow Republicans have opposed.

Trump lashed out at the bipartisan $900B package in a video he tweeted out on December 22 night and hinted that he may not sign the legislation. He told the lawmakers to increase direct payments for most Americans from $600 to $2,000 for individuals and $4,000 for couples. Furious about the range of provisions in the bill, including foreign aid, he lashed out at lawmakers to "get rid of the wasteful and unnecessary items from this legislation and to send me a suitable bill". He called on Congress to increase the "ridiculously low" $600 checks to $2000. He forgot to mention that the $600 check idea emanated from his own treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin.

Following Trump's statements, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi dared Trump’s Republican allies in Congress to meet the president’s demand for far higher payments. "At last, the President has agreed to $2,000. Democrats are ready to bring this to the Floor this week by unanimous consent. Let’s do it!," Pelosi said in a tweet. 

All eyes are now on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and whether he will approve this move or not. While Congress might ruminate on the possibility of $2,000 stimulus check, it’s not likely that Congress, including McConnell would go for more than triple the amount of the $600 stimulus check that was approved. Fiscal conservatives in the US Senate might not endorse a $2,000 stimulus check, especially, if they have opposed a $1,200 second stimulus check, according to Forbes.

Several Senate Republicans, including McConnell are slowly severing ties with Trump and finally accepting his defeat to President-elect Joe Biden, something Trump refuses to do. McConnell also warned Republicans against disputing the election on January 6, when the results would be formally declared.

After discussing his views on the Bill, Trump lashed out at McConnell as well as Senator John Thune, who said there was no point of trying to expect any different result. "Republicans in the Senate so quickly forget. Right now they would be down 8 seats without my backing them in the last Election. RINO John Thune, 'Mitch’s boy', should just let it play out. South Dakota doesn’t like weakness. He will be primaried in 2022, political career over!!," Trump tweeted.

Bernie Sanders was positive about this demand, reminding that he, along with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and Senator Ed Markey, had called for $2,000 direct payments at the beginning of the pandemic. "That's great! I first introduced a bill to provide a $2,000 direct payment with @SenKamalaHarris & @EdMarkey 7 months ago," Sanders tweeted. He added, "Now, Mr. President, get Mitch McConnell and your Republican friends to stop opposing it and we can provide working class Americans with $2,000."

Twitter had something else to say about McConnell and the bill. "Mitch McConnell won’t approve a bill with more than $600 stimulus checks. Trump won’t approve anything less than $2000 stimulus checks. But never fear, Republicans— neither one really cares because by in a month they will unite to blame Joe Biden for everything," one wrote. "Besides Trump McConnell is the biggest Problem in our government. Selfish, Heartless, Cheap, Cruel, Sniveling, Spineless, Cowardly, I could keep going all night. If a kid from a Democratic city was dying from thirst McConnell would give him a bucket of sand & smile. Rotten!" another wrote.

"A Republican president wants $2000 checks to spite McConnell. Meanwhile, neoliberal Democrats are melting down, and most progressives didn’t even have the guts to ask for this much. The ask was $1200 because they initially didn’t think they would even get half of that," another added.

Twitter is discussing this and many are highly doubtful about Trump's intentions and think that he doesn't mean anything by this. Author Seth Abramson wrote, "Trump doesn't want a stimulus bill. He wants Americans *angry* — and wants them to think that he's their savior. And he wants the Republicans to be scared of his leverage and political power. This has everything to do with his coup attempt and nothing to do with helping Americans."