Washington (AFP)

Donald Trump said on Friday that he was "in no rush" to reach an agreement with the Democrats for a new plan to help Americans affected by the coronavirus crisis.

Democrats in Congress, led by Nancy Pelosi, are working on a new multibillion-dollar package of measures, including aid to US states, paying rent or paying off loans, or protecting wages.

The text could be put to a vote in the House of Representatives if it returns to normal operation next week, according to Ms Pelosi.

But the American president wanted to temper any sense of urgency, despite the alarming unemployment figures published on Friday, with a rate reaching 14.7%.

"We are in no rush," he said during a meeting with elected Republican officials. "We want to see what they have in their bill."

"We got what we needed" in previous plans, he added.

In March, Congress approved a historic $ 2.2 trillion stimulus package promulgated by Donald Trump. It included the distribution of checks to the Americans, and 349 billion for a fund dedicated to small and medium-sized businesses.

A second aid plan of nearly $ 500 billion had followed in late April.

Republican officials and the White House are now pleading for a "break" before further action is taken.

An unacceptable position for the leader of the Democratic minority in the Senate Chuck Schumer. "We need a massive and bold approach to support American workers and families," he said in a statement.

"No one can look at today's jobs report, the highest unemployment rate since the Great Depression, and say we have to hit the pause button," he said.

US Senators Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris and Ed Markey on Friday introduced a bill that would secure a check for $ 2,000 each month to a majority of Americans for the duration of the crisis.

Donald Trump, for his part, pleaded for measures to reduce social security contributions, an idea which met with resistance within his party. And he spoke on Friday of the idea of ​​lowering taxation on capital gains.

Two proposals which would be ardently opposed by the Democrats.

© 2020 AFP