President Trump has made statements indicating that a second stimulus check will not be in the works anytime soon.
Trump held a news conference last week where he made it clear that any talks regarding the next stimulus deal would be shut down. After ending the conversation Trump tweeted, “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 Businesses.”
Since then, Trump has announced that he wants to see a second stimulus bill passed with a price tag that most Republicans in the Senate will never consider.
The first wave of stimulus checks were deposited into the bank accounts of many Americans during the peak of COVID-19 mid-April. The stimulus bill was passed in order to aid Americans who began suffering financially as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the coronavirus continues to have an effect on millions of Americans each day, many began to look forward to the second round of stimulus checks. Trump’s recent talks regarding his plan on not giving out the second round has caused some people to worry, especially college students.
“Although I never personally received the first stimulus check, I still know that it has helped many Americans around the world and for Trump to take that away so selfishly puts a lot of people at risk,” FAMU student Tyla Edwards said.
As the days continue, the likelihood of receiving the second check seems to get more complicated by the day. After his initial news conference on the topic, Trump has urged House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to back a stand-alone bill, the second $1,200 stimulus payment.
People who have yet to receive their first stimulus checks are being advised to consult the IRS tracking tool for help during this tedious process.
There are supposedly four dates being put in place by the IRS that indicate when the second round of stimulus checks will be sent out and who will receive them first. Some people are counting on another check as well as other funding, and this prolonged uncertainty is terrifying. Over 25 million people are currently collecting unemployment benefits of some sort and millions of others are facing long-term if not permanent job loss.
For now it is still unclear as to what Trump’s plans are — they change constantly — and many have hopes that he will come around. Trump claims he has won his battle with COVID-19, while many in his inner circle continue to self-isolate after testing positive.