Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell turned down President Trump's proposal to increase COVID-19 relief checks from $600 to $2,000, combining it with a Section 230 repeal and calling on the Senate to override Trump's veto of the defense bill.
“For the brave men and women of the United States armed forces, failure is simply not an option,” said McConnell about Trump's veto of the bill. “So when it’s our turn in Congress to have their backs, failure is not an option either. I would urge my colleagues to support this legislation one more time.”
The veto was already rejected by the House of Representatives and is probably going to have the same fate in the Senate, which is set to vote on Wednesday.
The move was criticized as it guaranteed rejection by the Democratic Party which, despite favoring increasing COVID-19 relief checks, opposes repealing Section 230. The section provides certain immunities to social media giants, who have lately been engaging in outright censorship and acting as publishers, in direct violation of the section. Repealing Section 230 would mean that these tech companies would now be liable for content uploaded by their users.
"Unless Republicans have a death wish, and it is also the right thing to do, they must approve the $2000 payments ASAP," tweeted Trump, adding that $600 is not enough and calling on the Senate to repeal Section 230.
Trump's comments were a clear reference to the upcoming Georgia runoff elections, which are taking place in a week and will determine whether the Republican Party will retain control of the Senate.
Tensions between Trump and the Republican Party leadership have been increasing since the former lost the November presidential elections. Before the the start of the Senate session on Tuesday, Trump said that a new and energetic Republican leadership is needed, calling its current leaders "pathetic".