Sanders in response to Trump’s COVID-19 stimulus: “What the President is doing now is incredibly cruel”

Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersSirota: Democrats need to look inside after defeats in the Trump vote leave Washington in limbo with a threat of relief 71-year-old Negro sues after South Carolina police allegedly kept him naked at gunpoint MORE (I-Vt.) On Sunday he called President TrumpDonald TrumpPost’s office will be named after Pearl Harbor’s oldest veteran federal agents seeking residence in Antioch in connection with the Nashville explosion. government continues vaccine launch MOREThe company’s response to the $ 900 billion COVID-19 relief bill passed by Congress last week “incredibly cruel.”

On ABC’s “This Week” program, presenter Jonathan Karl noted that the president is essentially threatening to veto the legislation by asking for direct payments over $ 2,000, something Republican lawmakers are strongly opposed to.

“What the president is doing now is incredibly cruel,” replied Sanders. “Many millions of people are missing out on their extended unemployment benefits. They will be evicted from their apartments because the eviction moratorium is ending. We are looking for a way to distribute the vaccine to tens of millions of people. There is money in that account. “

Sanders said that, given the “dire economic crisis this country is facing,” the current bill should be approved immediately, after which another bill for the proposed $ 2,000 checks must be approved quickly.

Trump’s requests for larger payments came as a big surprise, Karl noted, as many assumed he would sign the aid bill as soon as it landed on his desk. The ABC News presenter asked Sanders if there was a communication from the White House indicating Trump’s position before he suddenly asked for bigger payments.

“No. Everyone assumed – everyone – that Mnuchin was representing the White House,” replied Sanders, referring to the Treasury secretary. Steven MnuchinSteven MnuchinMillions is expected to lose unemployment benefits amid Trump’s standoff with the Bipartisan Congress, bicameral group urges Trump to sign the COVID-19 relief package.. “I spoke to Mnuchin a few weeks ago, and that was the assumption that everyone made.”

Karl ended the interview by asking Sanders what he thought of the president-elect Joe BidenJoe BidenBrother, from Biden’s consultant, Ricchetti, hired as a lobbyist to preview Amazon’s Sunday shows: COVID-19 relief awaiting Trump’s signature; government continues vaccine launch Global cases of COVID-19 exceed 80 million MOREChoice of cabinet.

“I believe that the progressive movement deserves seats in the Cabinet. This has not yet happened,” said Sanders, although he refrains from commenting directly on any nominee.

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