President Trump, during a campaign event in Mosinee, Wisconsin, on Thursday is expected to announce close to $13 billion in aid to farmers harmed by the economic effects of the coronavirus.
Bloomberg is reporting the president’s plan, which is not yet public. Congress authorized the borrowing authority, which funds the expenditure, for the U.S. Department of Agriculture earlier this year.
The measure comes as Congress remains stalled on a potential next relief bill, divided over costs.
Trump praised a $1.5 trillion framework from the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus.
“Some of the Republicans disagree, but I think I can convince them to go along with it because I like the larger number,” Trump said. “We should have an agreement. People should be helped, and they should be helped as rapidly as possible. And I think it’s going to happen.”
Veteran journalist Bob Woodward claimed in his new book that Trump was open in June to a future relief package above $3 trillion.
Trump informed close ally Sen. Lindsey Graham “that he wanted to go higher than $3 trillion for the economic stimulus and recovery package,” the book alleges.
“Don’t worry about the base,” Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, said to Trump in response. “Nobody elected you as a fiscal conservative.”
