President Trump Makes Move, Vetoes Major Defense Bill, McConnell May Push to Override

President Trump has officially vetoed the NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act) today which was passed with a veto-proof majority by Congress. AP reported the news just earlier this afternoon. Below is the tweet.

BREAKING: President Trump has vetoed annual defense policy bill, potentially setting up first override vote of his presidency. The bill affirms 3% pay raises for U.S. troops and authorizes more than $740 billion in military programs and construction.https://t.co/SGbPRX6RA7

— The Associated Press (@AP) December 23, 2020

The NDAA passed 84-13 in the Senate with Republicans and Democrats voting yes on the bill, and Republicans and Democrats voting against the bill. In the House, the bill passed 355-78 with Bipartisan support and 40 Republicans voting against the bill. The bill is veto-proof, meaning Congress does have enough votes to override the veto by the president and allowing the bill to pass.

This could put some GOP Senators and Representatives in Congress in a difficult position as voting to override the president’s veto could cost them their political careers or at least some push back from President Trump. There may not be enough votes to override the veto if some GOP Senators and Congressman remain loyal to the president. There will need to be a 2/3 vote in both chambers of Congress in order to override the president’s veto.

President Trump’s main grievances with the NDAA is that it doesn’t repeal section 230, makes it harder for the president to withdraw troops from abroad, and renames military bases after Confederate Generals. The president already threatened to veto the bill if it was passed.

It looks like he may also veto the COVID-19 relief bill as he wants $2,000 in direct payments to Americans, not $600. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell did say that if the House does return on December 28th to override the president’s veto he will do the same and call the Senate back the following day to do the same.

Mitch McConnell said in a statement on the Senate floor, “In the event that President Trump does elect to veto this bipartisan bill, it appears the House may choose to return after the holidays to set up a vote to consider the veto. … In the event that the president has vetoed the bill, and the House has voted to override the veto, the Senate would have the opportunity to process a veto override at that time,”.

This could put Senators Loefller (R-GA) and Perdue (R-GA) in tough positions as if they vote to override the president’s veto he may not give them the support they need to win their runoff elections on January 5th.

This vote could show who is loyal to the president and who isn’t. Stay tuned to Media Right News for more updates.