Bedminster (United States) (AFP)

Criticized for his management of the coronavirus pandemic, President Donald Trump unveiled on Saturday a new aid plan by decree to come to the aid of the millions of Americans threatened with deportation and stricken with unemployment because of the epidemic, lack of agreement in Congress.

"Enough, we will save American jobs and come to the aid of American workers," the billionaire said at a press conference at his golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey.

Mr. Trump signed four documents that provide for a wage freeze, an extended unemployment benefit of $ 400 per week, protections for tenants threatened with eviction and a postponement of the repayment of student loans.

As the United States is on its way to crossing the 5 million Covid-19 case mark, with more than 160,000 dead, the White House and Congressional Democrats had been engaged for two weeks in negotiations to reach a new gigantic plan to support the economy.

But with less than three months of the presidential election, and while the first aid measures expired on July 31, these discussions have so far yielded nothing.

Mr. Trump, who lags in the polls against Democratic candidate Joe Biden, said his decision to bypass Congress by signing orders will allow the funds to be "quickly distributed".

In reality, these announcements will likely be challenged in court since it is to Congress that the American constitution entrusts most of the country's budget decisions.

The American billionaire, who had invited members of his golf club to attend the press conference, used the signing ceremony to violently attack his opponents, while exaggerating his own accomplishments.

- Vague announcements -

To applause and laughter from golfers, Mr. Trump called Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi "crazy", called moderate Joe Biden "on the far left," and claimed Democrats wanted to "steal the presidential election".

Its advertisements themselves were vague and at times misleading. One of the president's key promises is to extend aid granted to the unemployed until the end of the year, in addition to those allocated by each American state.

While the extension of this aid, which has prevented millions of households from falling into poverty, was not up for debate in Congress, its amount was one of the major points of contention: Republicans proposed to lower it to $ 200 and the Democrats wanted to keep $ 600.

Mr. Trump announced the figure of $ 400 per week, but that amount could ultimately be limited to $ 300 because the federal state will only pay 75% and states will have to pay the remaining 25%.

Another measure provides for a freeze on payroll costs for Americans whose salaries do not exceed $ 100,000 per year. “If I am victorious on November 3, I intend to cancel these charges,” Mr. Trump promised.

However, this measure, which was opposed by many Republicans, as well as the Democrats, only postpones the payment of charges, it does not cancel them.

Mr Trump has also instructed the departments of Housing, Health and the CDC (Center for Disease Control) to "ensure that tenants and landlords can stay in their homes", while a fourth text suspends the repaying student loans until the end of the year and lowering their interest rates to 0%.

The Democratic opposition was pushing for a massive $ 3 trillion aid plan to stimulate the economy, bail out the U.S. post office in time for the presidential election, and extend $ 600 a week in aid for the unemployed.

Democrats rejected the Republican aid plan, which amounted to $ 1,000 billion.

© 2020 AFP