McConnell says stimulus bill is 'unlikely in the next 3 weeks' as Trump insists 'negotiations are moving along'


Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is casting doubt on the future of coronavirus relief.
Earlier this week, Trump pulled the plug on COVID-19 stimulus talks, saying he would tell Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to halt negotiations with Democrats "until after the election." Even though Trump has since changed his mind, McConnell told reporters Friday that a deal is still "unlikely in the next three weeks."
As of Friday morning, Trump was back on the stimulus train, tweeting that "Covid relief negotiations are moving along. Go big!" CNN and Bloomberg soon reported the White House had offered House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) a $1.8 trillion deal, up from its previous offer of $1.6 trillion. That includes $300 billion in state and local funding — "too low for Democrats, but in the right direction," Politico reports. Democrats want $2.2 trillion in funding, but the GOP is unwilling to top $2 trillion.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Regardless, any relief is unlikely to get far without McConnell's cooperation, and he doesn't seem willing to talk before the election. "You're never going to get a deal out of Pelosi that Republicans can support. So do you really want to divide your party within days of an election?" a source close to Senate leadership told Axios. "We do need another rescue package," McConnell acknowledged Friday, but "differences of opinion about what is needed at this particular juncture are pretty bad."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
Magazine solutions - April 4, 2025
Feature Issue - April 4, 2025
By The Week Staff Published
-
Magazine printables - April 4, 2025
Feature Issue - April 4, 2025
By The Week Staff Published
-
What dangers does the leaked Signal chat expose the US to?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION The White House's ballooning group chat scandal offered a masterclass in what not to say when prying eyes might be watching
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Israel detains director after West Bank settler clash
speed read The director of Oscar-winning documentary 'No Other Land' was arrested and beaten
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Turkey arrests Istanbul mayor, a top Erdogan rival
Speed Read Protests erupted in Turkey after authorities detained Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel strikes Gaza, breaking ceasefire
Speed Read 326 Palestinians were killed in the first major attack since Netanyahu's government signed a ceasefire agreement with Hamas
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarray
In the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Houthis vow retaliation amid US airstrikes
Speed Read Trump promises the US will use 'overwhelming lethal force' against the Houthis until they stop attacking Red Sea ships
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Pakistan train hostage standoff ends in bloodshed
Speed Read Pakistan's military stormed a train hijacked by separatist militants, killing 33 attackers and rescuing hundreds of hostages
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Ukrainian election: who could replace Zelenskyy?
The Explainer Donald Trump's 'dictator' jibe raises pressure on Ukraine to the polls while the country is under martial law
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Why Serbian protesters set off smoke bombs in parliament
THE EXPLAINER Ongoing anti-corruption protests erupted into full view this week as Serbian protesters threw the country's legislature into chaos
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published