Covid 19 coronavirus: US President Donald Trump plays golf for Christmas as relief bill hangs in balance

US President Donald Trump spent his Christmas golfing in Florida as a government shutdown looms and Covid-19 relief hangs in the balance.

Trump, at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach over the holidays, had no events on his public agenda after calling into question the future of a huge Covid-19 government aid and funding bill. Failure to sign the bill, which arrived in Florida on Thursday night (US time), could deny aid checks to millions of abyssed Americans and force a government shutdown amid the pandemic .

The White House declined to share details of the president’s calendar. It just said, “During the holiday season, President Trump will continue to work tirelessly for the American people. His schedule includes many meetings and calls.”

Trump’s expected golf partner on Friday was South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, a close ally.

Trump’s vacation came as Washington was still reeling from his surprise, the last-minute demand that a year-end spending bill that congressional leaders spent months negotiating give most Americans paychecks. Covid-19 aid of $ 2000, much more than the $ 600 of its own members. party had agreed. The idea was quickly rejected by House Republicans during a rare Christmas Eve session, leaving the proposal in limbo.

The bipartisan compromise was seen as a closed deal and garnered broad approval in the House and Senate this week after the White House assured Republican leaders that Trump supported it. If you refuse to sign the agreement, which is attached to a $ 1.4 trillion government funding bill, it will force a shutdown of the federal government, as well as delay aid controls and stop unemployment benefits and benefits. eviction protections in the most serious stretch of the pandemic.

Trump’s decision to attack the bill has been viewed, at least in part, as political punishment for what he sees as insufficient support from Congressional Republicans for his campaign to overturn the November 3 election results with unsubstantiated allegations of voter fraud.

“At a meeting in Florida today, everyone was wondering why Republicans are not up in arms and fighting over the fact that Democrats stole the rigged presidential election.” Trump tweeted on Thursday.

“I will never forget!” added later.

Trump for weeks has refused to accept the election results and has been pushing new and increasingly scandalous schemes to try to nullify the results. He’s been goaded on by allies like his attorney, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who accompanied the president to Florida aboard Air Force One.

Trump has not provided credible evidence to back up his election claims, which have been refuted by a long list of officials, including judges, former Attorney General William Barr, Republican governors and local election administrators.

Meanwhile, the nation continues to reel as the coronavirus spreads, with a record number of infections and hospitalizations and more than 327,000 deaths. Millions are now vacationing alone or struggling to make ends meet without adequate income, food or shelter thanks to the economic cost of the pandemic.

To mark the holiday, the President and First Lady Melania Trump tweeted a pre-recorded video message wishing Americans a Merry Christmas and thanking first responders and members of the military.

“As you know, this Christmas is different from years past,” said Melania Trump, who focused on the acts of “kindness and courage” that the pandemic had inspired.

Trump praised the doses of vaccine that are being delivered and thanked those responsible. “It is a true Christmas miracle,” he said.

Meanwhile, Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin have been trying to save year-end legislation to try to avoid a shutdown. Democrats will call House lawmakers to Washington to vote Monday on Trump’s $ 2,000 proposal, though he would likely die in the Republican-controlled Senate. They are also considering a vote Monday on an interim measure at least to avoid a federal shutdown and keep the government running until Democrat Joe Biden takes office on January 20.

In addition to aid checks, the Covid-19 bill that passed would establish a temporary supplemental unemployment benefit of $ 300 per week, provide a new round of subsidies for the hardest hit businesses, restaurants and theaters, and money for schools. , and it would provide money. for healthcare providers and to assist with the distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine.

– AP