President Trump doesn't seem to be connecting with his own party on this one.As a form of economic relief amid the coronavirus pandemic, Trump on Wednesday called for another round of direct stimulus payments for individual Americans, blaming "heartless" Democrats for the fact that there haven't been any since the CARES Act was passed in March. The criticism isn't unusual -- Trump, his allies, and the GOP at large have suggested Democrats are holding up coronavirus relief negotiations to push a larger party agenda through. But the president's comments also make it seem like Republicans are championing direct payments -- "Go for the much higher numbers, Republicans," he tweeted -- when, recently, that hasn't been the direction GOP lawmakers have been moving.In fact, the last coronavirus relief bill introduced by Senate Republicans excluded direct payments, while House Democrats passed a stalled relief package in May that did include a second round of $1,200 direct payments. > Again, a major disconnect with his own party.> > House Democrats passed a second round of $1,200 direct payments in a $3.4T package in May.> > Senate Republicans have rebelled against that price tag and their latest "skinny" covid relief bill excludes a new round of stimulus checks. pic.twitter.com/8AZKwZXmgP> > -- Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) September 16, 2020> The Senate GOP bill that Democrats blocked last week had NO direct stimulus payments in it. It extended federal unemployment benefits at $300/week until December. https://t.co/BbS5wShWVq> > -- Garrett Haake (@GarrettHaake) September 16, 2020More stories from theweek.com How a productivity phenomenon explains the unraveling of America How the Trump-Russia story was buried The conservatives who want to undo the Enlightenment
