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

The president had gone nearly a week without signing the bill.

Last Updated: December 24, 2020, 2:31 PM EST

President Donald Trump is slated to hand over control of the White House to President-elect Joe Biden in 24 days.

Dec 24, 2020, 2:31 PM EST

USPS reaches agreement with NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Vote Forward regarding timely election mail delivery for January runoff

The NAACP Legal and Educational Defense Fund announced Thursday an agreement between the civil rights organization and the United States Postal Service regarding election mail delivery pertaining to the Jan. 5 runoff election in Georgia. 

Vote Forward also entered into a separate, but identical, agreement with USPS, a spokesperson for the organization tells ABC News.

The parties state in the filing that in reaching the agreement, they wanted to "avoid the cost and burden of further litigation between now and the" election. The plaintiffs have agreed to not seek additional relief beyond what's outlined in the agreement and in previous court orders. 

Sam Spital, the NAACP LDF’s director of litigation, issued a statement that read: “Every ballot must be counted, and this agreement with the USPS is a significant step in ensuring that the mail-in voting process for the Georgia runoff election will ensure the timely delivery of ballots...LDF will continue to monitor every aspect of the Georgia election to ensure that all voters – especially Black voters who consistently face suppression and intimidation tactics – can participate via mail, through early voting or in person on Election Day.”

The USPS  also provided ABC News with a statement.

"The U.S. Postal Service has always been fully dedicated to fulfilling our vital role in the nation’s electoral process – it has been our number one priority for past the eight months," it said. "That dedication never wavered, and we took all steps necessary to deliver Election Mail timely and securely and performed admirably. We are equally committed to the timely and secure delivery of Election Mail for the Georgia runoff."

-ABC News' Quinn Scanlan

Dec 24, 2020, 1:04 PM EST

Trump fundraising off his opposition to COVID-19 relief bill

As Trump threatens to deprive millions of Americans of much-needed financial assistance, he on Wednesday sent an email trying to raise money for himself -- touting his opposition to the bipartisan COVID-19 relief bill.

Trump falsely said he had “sent the Covid Relief Bill BACK to Congress,” which is impossible since, as of this morning, Congress had yet to send the bill to the White House.

The president hasn’t explicitly said whether he would veto the bill, and Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill -- not to mention millions of Americans across the country -- are holding out hope he’ll sign it as soon as possible.

Trump also falsely wrote, as he said in his Tuesday night video message, that “This bill contains HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS of dollars to be sent to foreign countries.” In fact, Trump is conflating the government spending bill -- which contains that aid (which Trump himself had previously requested) -- and the COVID-19 relief bill, which were merged into one for expediency.

“Please contribute $5 IMMEDIATELY to publicly stand with me and to send a message to Congress that the American People deserve better,” Trump wrote.

-ABC News' Ben Gittleson

Dec 24, 2020, 11:24 AM EST

Trump golfs after leaving millions of Americans in limbo

Trump is spending Thursday morning golfing.

He arrived at Trump International Golf Club West Palm Beach after leaving millions of Americans in the lurch with his opposition to the bipartisan COVID-19 spending bill and the risk of a government shutdown early next week.

The motorcade of President Donald Trump arrives at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Fla., Dec. 24, 2020.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

Twelve million people may potentially lose pandemic-era unemployment benefits if they’re allowed to expire Saturday, and millions across the country face eviction as a federal moratorium expires at the end of the year.

In a nod to the optics of Trump’s activities today, Wednesday night the White House appended an unusual message onto an otherwise empty schedule:

"As the Holiday season approaches,” the schedule read, “President Trump will continue to work tirelessly for the American People. His schedule includes many meetings and calls."

-ABC News' Ben Gittleson and Mariam Khan

Dec 24, 2020, 10:26 AM EST

House Democrats' request for $2,000 checks for Americans is blocked

House Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer was on the House floor Thursday morning to request unanimous consent on a bill that would send $2,000 in stimulus checks to the American people after Trump called on Congress to amend a newly passed coronavirus relief bill to increase direct payments to $2,000.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer holds a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC., Dec. 24, 2020.
Michael Reynolds/POOL/EPA via Shutterstock

Trump indicated in a video posted to Twitter on Tuesday that he would not sign the $900 billion relief package passed by both chambers of Congress on Monday. The package provides $600 in direct payments for adults making up to $75,000 per year and children, with $2,400 for a family of four.

The unanimous consent vote attempted to call Trump's bluff and force Republicans to go on the record for their opposition to increasing direct payments from $600 to $2,000.

After Hoyer made the unanimous consent request, he was notified by the chair that his request did not have clearance from House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and so his request was denied. 

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy speaks to reporters at the Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC., on Dec. 20, 2020.
Stefani Reynolds/The New York Times via Redux

Separately, a GOP request to rollback US aid to foreign countries was also denied on the floor because the bill did not have clearance from Democrats. 

Just after the vote, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement that the House will hold a recorded vote on the floor on Monday on a standalone bill on the $2,000 checks, which will put Republicans officially on the record.

On Monday, the House will also hold its veto override vote on the defense policy bill. 

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC., Dec. 20, 2020.
Ken Cedeno/Reuters

Government funding expires Monday night at midnight if Trump does not sign the spending bill and the COVID-19 relief bill. 

“Hopefully by then the President will have already signed the bipartisan and bicameral legislation to keep the government open and to deliver coronavirus relief," Pelosi said in the statement.

-ABC News' Mariam Khan