Trump urges airline, paycheck aid after halting talks

By Ovunc Kutlu

ANKARA (AA) - US President Donald Trump urged lawmakers Wednesday to approve a measure to support airlines and small businesses, hours after he ended talks on a $2.2 trillion bipartisan relief bill.

"The House & Senate should IMMEDIATELY Approve 25 Billion Dollars for Airline Payroll Support, & 135 Billion Dollars for Paycheck Protection Program for Small Business," Trump said on Twitter.

"Both of these will be fully paid for with unused funds from the Cares Act. Have this money. I will sign now!" he added.

American and United airlines said they would have to furlough 32,000 employees because of the coronavirus pandemic if they did not receive help from the government by Oct. 1 -- the day when Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act expired. It went into effect in March.

The Payment Protection Program (PPP), which provided loans to businesses to guarantee workers eight weeks of paychecks amid the pandemic, also needs to be replenished as millions of Americans are in need of cash.

Trump halted relief bill talks Tuesday between Republicans and Democrats until after the Nov. 3 presidential election but signaled Wednesday he could approve a separate bill for stimulus checks for Americans.

"If I am sent a Stand Alone Bill for Stimulus Checks ($1,200), they will go out to our great people IMMEDIATELY. I am ready to sign right now. Are you listening Nancy?" he wrote on Twitter, referencing House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

"President Trump has shown his true colors: walking away from coronavirus relief negotiations and refusing to give real help to poor children, the unemployed, and America’s hard working families," Pelosi responded after Trump halted relief bill talks.