Trump aides talked him out of backing bigger stimulus payments for Americans, report says

Trump told advisers he wanted checks as big as $2,000

Trump was talked out of backing bigger stimulus payments for Americans by aides, report says (Photo by Erin Schaff-Pool/Getty Images)

Donald Trump was talked out of calling for large stimulus payments for struggling Americans by White House aides, a report says.

On a phone call, the outgoing president said he believed the relief package payment should be “at least” $1,200 and as much as $2,000, officials told The Washington Post.

Congressional leaders are trying to finalise a $900bn deal that would see Americans get a check for just $600 per person.

Mr Trump was reportedly told that any call for bigger checks could imperil the negotiations for an overall deal, said the officials.

Republicans have insisted that the deal remains under $1 trillion, and larger relief checks would push it past that figure.

“The aides were really frantic, saying, ‘We can’t do this. It will blow up negotiations,’ ” said one official.

A White House spokesman did not comment on the claim but said the administration was working on getting another round of stimulus payments passed by Congress.

“The President has heard from Americans all over the country who are hurting through no fault of their own, and he’s made clear he wants the next round of relief to include stimulus checks at a significant number,” said White House spokesman Ben Williamson.

“We’re working with Congress to settle on an agreement that can pass as soon as possible.”

Mr Trump signed a $2 trillion deal in March that send $1,200 stimulus checks to more than 100 million Americans.