AOC says Trump now has ‘no interest’ in helping Americans over Covid crisis

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has accused President Donald Trump of having “no interest” in helping the American public through the coronavirus crisis after losing re-election. 

The New York representative participated in a town hall with constituents on Thursday and was asked the status of coronavirus stimulus talks within Congress during a time when the American public and businesses could use the additional relief funding. 

"We thought [stimulus relief] was going to happen and at the very last minute the rug was pulled out for us," Ms Ocasio-Cortez said. “And now we are in a very dangerous moment where President Trump has no interest in helping the American people.” 

She added: “His urgency prior to the election, I would say, was entirely predicated on his re-election. And now the election is over it seems he has no urgency to help everyone in this country.” 

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was negotiating with members of the White House and Senate Leader Mitch McConnell in the weeks leading up to the election, giving the public hope that Republicans and Democrats could reach a deal. 

But those stimulus talks fell through and have shown no indication of restarting in the coming weeks. 

Besides blaming Mr Trump, the Democratic representative also accused Mr McConnell of having no interest in resuming stimulus talks. 

“Mitch McConnell is very much in the same boat,” she said. “I hate to be saying these words right now. It is unacceptable. So many of our families are in need of this check … right now there is no urgency on the Republican side. 

“It is my hope that Mitch McConnell is able to find some urgency and desire to get stimulus checks out to everyone.”

Ms Ocasio-Cortez has indicated she would be for monthly stimulus payments for working-class families across the US as her optimal package, an option Republicans have strongly opposed. 

Republicans and Democrats remain deadlocked on how much to spend on this next stimulus package, and neither side has budged enough to reach an agreement. 

"I don't think the current situation demands a multi-trillion-dollar package. So I think it should be highly targeted," Mr McConnell said on Tuesday. "It seems to me that snag that hung us up for months is still there." 

Mr McConnell supported a smaller, targeted stimulus package of about $500bn that would not include a $1,200 stimulus check to Americans. 

Democrats, led by Ms Pelosi, are pushing for a $2.2trn Heroes Act that passed in the House of Representatives in October. This package would include an additional stimulus cheque for Americans. 

"It has been our position all along to crush the virus, honour our heroes, put money in the pockets of the American people," Ms Pelosi said during a press conference on Thursday when addressing stimulus talks. "This is what we put in the Heroes Act to crush the virus." 

If Congress were to reach an agreement prior to 20 January, that would mean Mr Trump would be responsible for signing off on the legislation. 

Stimulus talks could alter, though, if held off until after 20 January once President-elect Joe Biden is in office and its determined if Democrats or Republicans will have control of the Senate.