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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi urged President Donald Trump to convince Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to agree to $2,000 stimulus payments for Americans. Pelosi's plea to the President on Twitter was originally spurred by Trump's surprise address to the nation on Tuesday night when he threatened to veto the $900 billion COVID-19 relief package, which included $600 stimulus payments to Americans. https://twitter.com/SpeakerPelosi/status/1341770086818918401 "Send me a suitable bill or else the next administration will have to deliver a COVID relief package and maybe that administration will be me and we will get it done," Trump said about the bill. House and Senate Democrats have by-and-large jumped onto the President's demand to increase stimulus payments to $2,000. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted in support of Trump's move, saying: "Let's do it. @RashidaTlaib and I already co-wrote the COVID amendment for $2,000 checks, so it's ready to go. Glad to see the President is willing to support our legislation. We can pass $2k checks this week if the Senate GOP agrees to stand down." https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1341572295769415682 Trump's demands have been met with criticism from both sides of aisle, including Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Republican Sen. Lindsay Graham, who urged the President to sign the current bill into law immediately. Oddly enough, Graham changed his tune and voiced support for the $2,000 stimulus, saying: "I support President @realDonaldTrump's demand to increase direct payments for long-suffering Americans to $2,000 per person." https://twitter.com/LindseyGrahamSC/status/1341755641505996801 In the end, the fate of a $2,000 stimulus payment lies in the hands of Sen. Mitch McConnell, who has reportedly maintained a line in the sand on the $600 amount - urging Republicans to follow his lead. Admittedly, McConnell is in a tough spot. The Senate Majority Leader could decide to hold the line, which would create a Mexican standoff of Congressional leaders and the Executive Branch. Or, McConnell could see which way the wind is blowing and acquiesce Trump and Pelosi's request. The ultimate question being - will McConnell be willing to face the wrath of the American public who already appear to be incensed by the $900 billion relief packages' contents? ---------------------------------------- Have a story you want USA Herald to cover? Submit a tip here and if we think it's newsworthy, we'll follow up on it.