Georgia Democratic Senate candidates Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock came out in support of President Trump’s call for $2,000 checks to be sent to Americans as part of a coronavirus relief package, upping pressure on their Republican rivals, Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, to do the same.
“$2,000 checks now,” Ossoff tweeted after Trump blasted a $900 billion stimulus package that included $600 checks for some Americans.
“$600 is a joke. Families have credit cards maxed out, unable to afford prescriptions, the rent, the car payment,” he added on CNN. “I urged the United States Congress to pass additional direct stimulus payments of $2,000 to every American right now.”
In a statement Wednesday, Warnock pressed Loeffler, whom he’s challenging in Georgia’s second Senate runoff, to come out in support of boosted stimulus checks.
“As I’ve said from the start, the Senate should have acted on this months ago and support for Georgians should have been far greater. Donald Trump is right, Congress should swiftly increase direct payments to $2,000. Once and for all Senator Loeffler should do what’s best for Georgia instead of focusing on what she can do for herself,” he said.
The developments marked an unusual instance in which Ossoff, Warnock and Trump were in agreement. Neither Perdue’s nor Loeffler’s campaigns immediately said if they agreed with Trump’s remarks when reached by The Hill.
Ossoff and Warnock have been vocal opponents of Trump throughout their campaign, while Perdue and Loeffler (R) have remained in lockstep with the White House.
Democrats had been advocating for a broader coronavirus stimulus package while Republicans were tepid about the overall price tag despite Trump’s urging for them to “go big.”
Trump in a video posted on Twitter berated Congress over a $2.3 trillion package that it passed Monday, which includes $900 billion in coronavirus relief and $1.4 trillion to fund the government until October.
“A few months ago, Congress started negotiations on a new package to get urgently needed help to the American people. It’s taken forever. However, the bill they are now planning to send back to my desk is much different than anticipated. It really is a disgrace,” Trump said.
“Despite all of this wasteful spending and much more, the $900 billion package provides hardworking taxpayers with only $600 each in relief payments, and not enough money is given to small businesses, and in particular restaurants, whose owners have suffered so grievously,” he added.
–Updated at 11:52 a.m.