Trump challenges Congress by disrupting the US defense budget
The outgoing US President Donald Trump on Wednesday suspended the defense budget of the United States that had been previously approved by Congress with an overwhelming majority, thus confirming his intention to strike until the end of his term of office all political standards and even his Republican camp.
The House of Representatives and Senate approved two weeks ago by an overwhelming majority, a budget of $ 740.5 billion that would allow, in the event that the deputies who supported the text in their first vote, to override the presidential veto by voting on it again by the described majority.
Democratic Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, accused the president of using his "last hours in power to cause chaos" with this "irresponsible act", and announced that MPs would return from leave on Monday to "bypass the veto."
And four weeks before his successor, Joe Biden, is inaugurated as president, that will set a precedent and mission during Trump's only term.
In an official letter to Congress, Trump said, "It is regrettable that this text of law does not include basic measures for national security," and "does not comply with my government's efforts to make America in the forefront in terms of national security and foreign policy," considering that it constitutes "a gift to China and Russia."
The budget text, which was returned to Congress on Wednesday, notes that defense sector employees' salaries will be increased by 3%.
But Trump had threatened to use the veto because the text did not include, in particular, the abolition of a law known as "Article 230" that protects the legal status of social networks that the president accuses of being biased against him.
- “Largely vital” - Trump said in his letter to lawmakers that “Article 230 facilitates the spread of foreign misleading information on the Internet, which poses a serious threat to our national security and the integrity of our elections.”
Trump also takes the Pentagon Funding Act as stipulating the renaming of military bases that honor the Confederate camp generals who championed slavery during the American Civil War.
"From these bases, we won two world wars," he said, criticizing an intention to "forget history."
Trump also rejects measures that "contradict his efforts to bring our forces home (...) from Afghanistan, Germany and South Korea."
"For all these reasons, I cannot support this text, which places the interests of the political class in Washington above the interests of the American people," Trump said.
Trump has so far refused to admit his defeat in the elections in November and appears to be implementing a scorched earth policy as he approaches his exit from the White House.
His opponents also condemned his position on the defense budget, which is approved by consensus bypassing political parties.
"The Democrats will vote to override this veto," said Chuck Schumer, leader of the Democratic minority in the Senate.
But the presidential opposition puts its camp in an embarrassing position.
Republican Senate Defense Committee Chairman Jim Anhoff confirmed his support for the text "essential to our national security and our forces," praising Trump's performance in favor of the military.
This bill differs from the text of the budget, which includes a plan to support the US economy, which Trump is also threatening to veto to obtain more money for families, putting Republican lawmakers under great pressure.
Follow our latest local and sports news, and the latest political and economic developments via Google news