Daily US Times: President Trump is assailing the bipartisan $900 billion Covid-19 aid bill that Congress just passed to increase stimulus payments to $2,000 per American. The President is now suggesting that he may not sign it.

In a video message posted on Twitter, Mr Trump asked lawmakers to “remove wasteful and unnecessary items”, adding that the package “really is a disgrace”.

The President said: “It’s called the Covid relief bill, but it has almost nothing to do with Covid.”

The massive $900bn aid bill includes one-off $600 payments to most Americans.

President-elect Joe Biden said on Tuesday that the coronavirus bill was a merely “down payment” and vowed he would press lawmakers to pass another stimulus bill after he enters office on January 20.

“Congress did its job this week,” Joe Biden said, speaking from his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware, adding that “and I can and I must ask them to do it again next year.”

Mr Trump, who leaves office in the next month, had been expected to sign the sprawling legislation into law following its passage through Congress on Monday night.

But in Tuesday night’s message from the White House, the President baulked at spending in the money on other countries, arguing that the money should go to struggling Americans.

“Congress found plenty of money for foreign countries, lobbyists and special interests, while sending the bare minimum to the American people who need it. It wasn’t their fault. It was China’s fault,” President Trump said.

The US President asked Congress to amend this bill and increase the ridiculously low $600 to $2,000 or $4,000 for a couple.

You may read: US Congress passes long-awaited deal for coronavirus aid