President Donald Trump criticized Congressional Democrats on Tuesday for using the coronavirus rescue package to push for environmental priorities.
“This is not about the ridiculous Green New Deal,” Trump wrote on Twitter. “It is about putting our great workers and companies BACK TO WORK!”
The president has tried to signal his traditional dealmaking persona regarding the package but criticized Democrats for pushing solar and wind tax credits and carbon reduction and alternative fuel mandates for the airlines.
Trump also criticized Pelosi and House Democrats on Monday night for blowing up a deal with the Senate.
“The Democrats want the Virus to win?” he asked on Twitter. “They are asking for things that have nothing to do with our great workers or companies. They want Open Borders and Green New Deal. Republicans shouldn’t agree!”
Earlier in the evening, Trump appeared optimistic a deal could be reached.
“They have to get together and just stop with the partisan politics, and I think that’s happening,” Trump said during a press conference at the White House, adding, “It’s not really a choice. They don’t have a choice. They have to make a deal.”
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin continues to negotiate with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on a massive rescue package.
Despite Schumer’s insistence Democrats would reach a deal on Monday, Mnuchin left Capitol Hill without a deal.
Both parties signaled optimism, however, that a $2.5 trillion rescue plan deal could be reached by Tuesday.
In the meantime, Republicans expressed outrage that Democrats were not moving quickly enough to get a deal passed.
“This has got to stop and today is the day it has to stop,” an exasperated McConnell said on the Senate floor on Monday after Democrats blocked legislation from advancing. “The country is out of time.”