Trump-Biden transition latest: Trump signs coronavirus relief bill amid pressure

Biden officially announced Tuesday evening that he will nominate Miguel Cardona to be his secretary of education, as reported by ABC News earlier.

"In Miguel Cardona, America will have an experienced and dedicated public school teacher leading the way at the Department of Education -- ensuring that every student is equipped to thrive in the economy of the future, that every educator has the resources they need to do their jobs with dignity and success, and that every school is on track to reopen safely," Biden said in a statement.

Cardona is currently Connecticut's commissioner of education.

-ABC News' John Verhovek

President Donald Trump is now saying he won't sign the COVID-19 relief bill sent for his approval after representatives from the Trump administration worked to get a bill the president was willing to sign.

Trump tweeted Congress should amend the $900 billion stimulus package and send it back to him. In a video, he asks them to amend the $600 direct payments to $2,000 and to get rid of the "wasteful" items before he signs it.

“Send me a suitable bill or else the next administration will have to deliver a COVID relief package. And maybe that administration will be me," the president says in the video.

Republicans and Democrats in the House and Senate had debated the relief bill for months along with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin. The secretary had even said the direct $600 payments would be coming to Americans starting next week.

White House chief of staff Mark Meadows was in Georgia Tuesday hoping to observe the signature match audit underway in Cobb County, Deputy Secretary of State Jordan Fuchs confirmed to ABC News. 

Fuchs said that she didn't allow Meadows to enter the room where this was happening, but allowed him to stand with her in the doorway. She said that when Meadows arrived, the people doing the audit were about to go to lunch anyway, and the supplies and ballot envelopes had been packed away for that.

Still, according to Fuchs, Meadows told her they had "a good meeting" and that whatever information she was able to provide to him, he would report back to President Trump. 

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced on Dec. 14 that Cobb County would conduct this audit, saying there was a "specific allegation" that signature matching wasn't done properly in the June primary. A statistically significant number of absentee envelopes (not every ballot) from both the June and November elections are being looked at as part of this audit. Fuchs said the secretary's office is urging the county to finish by Monday. 

-ABC News’ Quinn Scanlan and Ben Gittleson.

Just days before Christmas, the president-elect addressed the nation in Wilmington, Delaware, on Tuesday. 

Joe Biden reflected on the past year that was marked in the U.S. by a pandemic, racial reckoning, wildfires and more hardships. 

"Jill and I send our prayers, as I’m sure all of you do, to all who are facing this dark winter with an empty seat at the dinner table," Biden said. "Our hearts go out to all of you who have fallen on hard times, through no fault of your own, I might add." 

Biden reflected on how his family’s Christmas will be different this year, saying they usually have up to 25 people over for dinner and 14 family members "coming down the stairs on Christmas morning." 

“But not this year,” he said. "Like we did over Thanksgiving, we all have to care enough for each other that we have to stay apart just for a little bit longer." 

The president-elect urged Americans to remain vigilant, wear masks, stay socially-distant and avoid large gatherings. 

"We need to work in a bipartisan way, that’s the only way we’re going to get through, this in tough times," he said.

Biden applauded lawmakers for passing the COVID-19 relief package. 

"In this election, the American people made it clear: They want us to reach across the aisle and work together on matters of national concern, to get something done," he said. 

He noted the relief bill is "far from perfect" and is just the "first step" in addressing the crises the U.S. is in. 

Finally, Biden warned that, "Our darkest days in the battle against COVID are ahead of us, not behind us, so we need to prepare ourselves."

Biden also addressed the cyber attack that hit government agencies and U.S. companies.

"There’s still so much we don’t know, including the full scope of the breach, or the extent of the damage it has caused," Biden said. "This attack constitutes a grave risk for our national security, it was carefully planned and carefully orchestrated." 

“Foreign actors have been working on this breach since at least last year," he added. He accused the Trump administration of failing to prioritize cybersecurity. 

Biden noted that initial indications suggest that Russia is responsible, but called on the Trump administration to make an official attribution.

Biden pledged his administration would prioritize cybersecurity.

The president-elect closed by urging Americans to remain hopeful and united during the holiday season.

“As a nation, we’ve certainly been shaken to our depths this year,” he said. "Now it’s time to awaken, to get moving, time for hope."