Trump says no Post Office funding means Democrats ‘cannot have universal post-vote’

President TrumpDonald John TrumpNew Bob Woodward book will contain details of 25 personal letters between Trump and Kim Jong Un On The Money: Pelosi, Mnuchin talk, but make no progress on ending stalemate | Trump seizes ‘third track’ of policy with payroll tax break | Trump uses racist tropes to repeat honest housing to ‘suburban housewife’. Biden commemorates anniversary of Charlottesville’s ‘Unite the Right’ rally: ‘We are in a battle for the soul of our nation’ MORE on Thursday suggested he was not ready to reach an agreement with Democrats that included funding for the Postal Service because the universal post-in-vote would appear in this year’s election.

Trump, who for weeks has made exaggerated and inaccurate claims about voting via mail-in, made his clearest argument so far that he is opposed to funding for the post office that Democrats have pushed for as part of coronavirus legislation because it has access to post-in-votes would strengthen.

“They want $ 25 billion for the post office. Now, they need that money to run the post office so it can take all those millions and millions of votes,” Trump said. “Now in the meantime, they do not get there. In fact, those are just two items. But if they do not get those two items, it means you do not have a universal mail-in vote, because they are not equipped to do it. have. “

“Well, if we do not make a deal, that means they will not get the money. That means they can not have a universal mail-in vote,” Trump added. “They just can not have it. That, you know, kind of a crazy thing.”

Trump this morning why he will not fund the US Postal Service. “Now they need that money to run the post office so it can take all those millions and millions of ballots … But if they don’t get those two items, that means you can not have universal mail-in voting. ” pic.twitter.com/73NBmSnoNC

– The Recount (@therecount) August 13, 2020

Democrats passed legislation in May that would allocate $ 25 billion over three years to the Postal Service as part of broader coronavirus relief. Democratic leaders have proposed an additional $ 3.5 billion in additional funding to be used for election funding amid the coronavirus pandemic, which has complicated the voting of individuals.

Democrats have called for broader access to post-a-ballot papers, noting that there will be fewer polling stations because of the pandemic and arguing that populations at risk can rely more heavily on absentee ballots.

But Trump has tried to cast doubt on the credibility of post-in-votes, claiming that the election will be “rigged” and “fraudulent”, despite experts insisting that there is little meaningful fraud linked to voting for mail. in.

“You know, there’s nothing wrong with going out and voting,” Trump said Thursday. “You come out and vote. They voted in World War I and World War II.”

The Postal Service is embroiled in a political battle amid the pandemic, with Democrats worried that Trump’s appointment to lead the agency could undermine the delivery of postal ballots.

Several lawmakers on Thursday criticized Trump’s comments. Rep. Jimmy GomezJimmy GomezHispanic Caucus Asks for Department of Labor on COVID in Meat Package Plants Census Director says he learned of the Trump citizenship movement ‘when it was posted on the web’ Hispanic Caucus requests meeting with private detention center CEOs MORE (D-Calif.) Tweeted that Trump “said the quiet part loud,” while rep. Hakeem JeffriesHakeem Sekou JeffriesJeffries on Senate coronavirus bill: ‘Totally irrelevant’ Gohmert tests positive for COVID-19 The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Brawls on Capitol Hill on Barr and COVID-19 MORE (DN.Y.), a member of House Democratic leadership, said “the attempt to destroy the Post Office is part of a continuing conspiracy to steal the election.”