What if Donald Trump ended his mandate with a snub?
The House of Representatives on Monday rejected Donald Trump's defense budget veto, paving the way for a final Senate vote that could mark the first time Congress has bypassed a veto of the 45th President of the United States.
Shortly after supporting Donald Trump's request to increase aid to the unemployed as part of the second economic stimulus plan, 212 Democrats but also 109 Republicans, more than two-thirds needed, voted in favor of the "defense bill" " despite the president's objections ”.
The result of long negotiations, the colossal budget of $ 740.5 billion (€ 604.4 billion) was adopted in early December by overwhelming majorities by the House, controlled by the Democrats, and the Senate, in the hands of the Republicans.
In particular, it provides for a 3% increase in the salary of defense personnel.
A project too favorable to China, according to Trump
Despite the opposition of his advisers, who foreshadowed this scenario, Donald Trump announced on December 23 that he was vetoing it for several reasons.
First of all, the project would be too favorable to China;
it also opens up the possibility of renaming military bases honoring Confederate generals, a camp which fought to maintain slavery during the Civil War (1861-1865);
finally, the text does not include the abolition of a law which protects the legal status of social networks, a measure however unrelated to national security.
In the hemicycle, Republican Mac Thornberry, number two on the House Armed Forces Committee, urged his camp to override the presidential veto.
“I am only asking that by voting, members of Parliament put the country's interests first.
No other consideration should count, ”he insisted.
This is the ninth time that Donald Trump has vetoed a law in four years in office.
Congress has so far never gathered enough votes to override this constitutional right.
Republican House Speaker Nancy Pelosi described a “crushing bipartisan” vote against Trump's veto, and denounced the president's “dangerous sabotage efforts”.
"The president must end his campaign of last-minute chaos and stop using his last moments in power to obstruct bipartisan and bicameral action to protect our military and defend our security," wrote in A declaration.
Morning essentials newsletter
A tour of the news to start the day
Subscribe to the newsletterAll newsletters
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer has said he believes the Senate will join the House.
No date has yet been set for the vote in the Senate, where a two-thirds majority will also be needed to overcome Donald Trump's veto.
The defense budget was adopted by 84 votes to 13.
