Trump orders aides to stop Covid relief talks with Pelosi until after election

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Donald Trump, still recovering from his coronavirus infection, announced on Monday he has ordered his team to halt negotiations with congressional Democrats towards another bill intended to provide relief to families and businesses hit hard by the pandemic.

The president’s sudden announcement sent US stock markets tumbling. They had been riding hopes of a new deal to further bolster what has been a sluggish economy since the virus started sweeping from coast to coast. The Dow Jones was down 500 points, but that drop had improved to about 280 points as of 3:30 p.m. It prompted the top House Democrat to contend Mr Trump is putting himself above the needs of his people.

“I have instructed my representatives to stop negotiating until after the election when, immediately after I win, we will pass a major Stimulus Bill that focuses on hardworking Americans and Small Business,” the president tweeted as he convalesced in the White House residence.

The talks between Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Speaker Nancy Pelosi have been stalled for months. Democrats are demanding all their requests be included in a mammoth bill with a price tag in the trillions. But Mr Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows have pushed a smaller bill around $1trn with fewer of each side’s demands.

The president has spent much of his first full day back at the White House after his coronavirus hospitalization tweeting about his Democratic foes and the news media. He appears to be in a foul mood, if his tweets are any indication.

"Nancy Pelosi is asking for $2.4 Trillion Dollars to bailout poorly run, high crime, Democrat States, money that is in no way related to COVID-19. We made a very generous offer of $1.6 Trillion Dollars and, as usual, she is not negotiating in good faith. I am rejecting their......request, and looking to the future of our Country," Mr Trump wrote.

To be clear, no deal was in the offing when Mr Trump cemented his position on Tuesday.

“Today, once again, President Trump showed his true colors: putting himself first at the expense of the country, with the full complicity of the GOP members of Congress,” Ms Pelosi said in a statement. “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."

“At the same time, the President is abandoning meeting the needs of our children as they adjust to learning in-person, virtual or hybrid," she added. 

The speaker and the Treasury secretary had been scheduled for another call for 3:30 p.m. on the East Coast to continue negotiations.

But several hangups are still preventing a deal: Republican opposition to Democrats plan to shovel hundreds of billions of dollars more to states and local governments; Democratic opposition to Republican language that would shield businesses, health care facilities, and schools from liability lawsuits related to Covid-19 exposure; and several other lynchpin issues.

The tweet thread prompted almost immediate ire from congressional Democrats.

Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chairman Mark Pocan blasted the president on Twitter for "holding relief for American families hostage."

Between now and the November elections, Americans "will lose their homes, lose their jobs & lose their healthcare because he refuses to act," Mr Pocan said.

"His selfishness is limitless," the Wisconsin Democrat said.

–Griffin Connolly contributed to this report.