Democrat politicians have been accused of playing a “game of chicken” with the US economy after blocking Donald Trump’s massive $1.8 trillion stimulus plan to try to stave off hardships caused by the coronavirus crisis.
Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell hit out as Republicans scrambled to rescue a deal with Democrats before another vote on the bill this evening.
The row blew up on Capitol Hill as Mr Trump deployed the US National Guard to New York, California and Washington — the three states hardest hit by the virus, which have all been declared disaster zones.
Although there are now more than 35,000 confirmed cases nationwide, with 471 deaths, the President also hinted today that he might soften his stance on the virus after two weeks.
In a tweet, Mr Trump wrote in capitals: “WE CANNOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF. AT THE END OF THE 15 DAY PERIOD, WE WILL MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHICH WAY WE WANT TO GO!”
He said he would be proposing a Democrat version of the stimulus package with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi today, insisting: “We’re closer than we’ve been at any time over the past 48 hours to an agreement.”
In New York, now the epicentre of the country’s outbreak, Mayor Bill de Blasio, warned the city was about 10 days away from “widespread shortages”.
“If we don’t get more ventilators people will die,” he added after the Big Apple went into full lockdown yesterday.
By last night, New York became the worst hit state with more than 16,887 confirmed cases and 150 deaths; Washington had more than 1,996 cases and 95 deaths and California more than 1,700 with 35 deaths.
