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

Sen. Bernie Sanders, one of the leading advocates for government-issued direct payments to Americans amid the COVID-19 pandemic, argued Sunday that despite his -- and President Donald Trump's last-minute -- reservations about the size of the checks within the currently stalled relief bill, it needs to be signed immediately.

"My view is that, given the terrible economic crisis facing this country, yes, we do need to get $2,000 out to every working-class individual in this country, $500 for their kids -- but you can't diddle around with the bill," Sanders, I-Vt., told ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl on "This Week" Sunday.

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'Sign the bill, Mr. President,' then we can pass $2,000 payments: Sanders

Sen. Bernie Sanders is interviewed on "This Week."

ABCNews.com

Though the relief package, as passed last week by Congress, contains checks for $1,400 less than the senator -- and later, Trump -- lobbied for, Sanders proposed an alternative solution in a directive to the White House.

"Sign the bill, Mr. President, and then immediately -- Monday, Tuesday -- we can pass a $2,000 direct payment for the working families of this country," Sanders said.

-ABC News' Adam Kelsey

Republican Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan on criticized President Donald Trump for not raising his objections to the bipartisan, $900 billion COVID-19 relief bill until after Congress passed it.

"Here we are, you know, after all this work went on," Hogan told ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl on "This Week" Sunday. "Both parties were so far apart in the House and the Senate. The problem solvers caucus, some -- some really bipartisan folks on both sides of the aisle brought everybody to the table. They reached an agreement."

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'Joe Biden is the properly elected president': Maryland governor

Gov. Larry Hogan, R-Md., is interviewed on "This Week."

ABCNews.com

"Secretary (Steven) Mnuchin worked together with them and made commitments on behalf of the administration, and then -- not eight months before or even eight days before but after it was passed -- then the president raises these objections? Millions of people are going to suffer," he added.

-ABC News' Adia Robinson

Following Trump's threat to veto the $900 billion COVID-19 relief bill, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., will speak with ABC News Chief White House correspondent Jonathan Karl about the latest efforts to get relief benefits to millions of Americans on "This Week" Sunday.

Karl will also speak with Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan on the state of the Republican Party and U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams about the latest on the COVID-19 pandemic after heavy air travel this holiday season.

The Powerhouse Roundtable will also take on Trump's recent flurry of pardons for his political allies.

Check local listings for air time.

Biden released a statement on Saturday afternoon amping up the pressure on Trump to sign the COVID-19 relief bill passed by Congress.

Biden said the “abdication of responsibility” by Trump has “devastating consequences” for Americans while reiterating that while the bill is "critical," it is also just a first step toward getting struggling families and businesses the help they need.

"It is the day after Christmas, and millions of families don’t know if they’ll be able to make ends meet because of President Donald Trump’s refusal to sign an economic relief bill approved by Congress with an overwhelming and bipartisan majority," the statement reads.

"This abdication of responsibility has devastating consequences. Today, about 10 million Americans will lose unemployment insurance benefits. In just a few days, government funding will expire, putting vital services and paychecks for military personnel at risk. In less than a week, a moratorium on evictions expires, putting millions at risk of being forced from their homes over the holidays," it continues. "Delay means more small businesses won’t survive this dark winter because they lack access to the lifeline they need, and Americans face further delays in getting the direct payments they deserve as quickly as possible to help deal with the economic devastation caused by COVID-19. And while there is hope with the vaccines, we need funding to be able to distribute and administer them to millions of Americans, including frontline health care workers."

The bill "needs to be signed into law now," the statement says. "But it is also a first step and down payment on more action that we’ll need to take early in the new year to revive the economy and contain the pandemic."

-ABC News' John Verhovek