Covid-19 coronavirus: Trump halts pandemic relief talks until after election

The White House is seen in Washington today after President Donald Trump's return from the hospital where he was treated for Covid-19. Photo / AP

United States President Donald Trump said today that he has instructed aides to stop negotiating on another round of Covid-19 relief until after the election.

Trump tweeted that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was "not negotiating in good faith" and said he's asked Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to direct all his focus before the election into confirming his US Supreme Court nominee, Amy Coney Barrett.

"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," Trump tweeted.

Last week, the White House said it was backing a US$400 per week pandemic jobless benefit and dangled the possibility of a Covid-19 relief bill of US$1.6 trillion. But that offer was rejected by Pelosi.

Several Trump advisers tell @jonathanvswan they are utterly perplexed by Trump's decision to own pulling out of stimulus talks.

"You have to try to be this politically inept. What is going on in the White House? Where is Mark Meadows?" https://t.co/JW45dNbpyi

— Zach Basu (@zacharybasu) October 6, 2020

Biden's polling lead over Trump is largely unprecedented in the 21st centuryhttps://t.co/Yk7zoQomHr

— Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) October 6, 2020

Trump broke off talks after Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell warned earlier today that the economic recovery remains fragile seven months into coronavirus pandemic without further economic stimulus.

Stocks dropped suddenly on Wall Street after Trump ordered a stop to negotiations.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average swung instantly from a gain of about 200 points to a loss of about 300 points.

Powell, in remarks before the National Association for Business Economics, made clear that too little support "would lead to a weak recovery, creating unnecessary hardship for households and businesses."

- AP