Speaker Pelosi blames Trump, GOP for deadlock in coronavirus relief negotiations

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi cast doubt on coronavirus task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx and blamed the deadlock in negotiations on the next coronavirus relief bill on the President Donald Trump and Republicans, as federal unemployment benefits expire for 30 million Americans.

"He's the one who is standing in the way of that," she said of Trump on ABC's "This Week. "We have been for the $600, they have a $200 proposal, which does not meet the needs of America's working families."

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In response to a Politico report that she told Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin that Birx was "the worst" in a closed-door meeting on Friday, Pelosi told "This Week" Co-anchor Martha Raddatz, "I think the president is spreading disinformation about the virus and she is his appointee, so I don't have confidence there."

Pelosi said that a "strategic" plan for defeating the coronavirus was a sticking point in the negotiations.

Speaking to reporters, Pelosi said Saturday's negotiations were "productive in terms of moving things forward."

When Raddatz asked on Sunday when Americans could expect to see a deal, Pelosi said, "well the fact is we will be close to an agreement, when we have an agreement."

At the center of the standoff is the future of the $600 weekly federal unemployment benefit that expired Friday. Republicans have proposed a $200 per week extension -- arguing that the increased assistance disincentivized some employees from returning to work -- but Democrats are seeking to continue the $600 supplement until at least January.

Pelosi responded to comments from colleague House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., who told CNN on Tuesday "it... (Read more)

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