Press Releases
Rent is Due: COVID-19 Financial Toll Hits Home Today
Trump’s Focus Remains on Stock Market, Billion-Dollar Corporations
WASHINGTON, D.C. – For the millions of Americans whose jobs have been suddenly swept away during this public health crisis, paying rent today will not be easy. For many, the one-time $1,200 check they’ve been promised from the latest stimulus bill is still “weeks away” and will not even cover the average national rent, which exceeds $1,600. As families across the country come up short today and worry about potential eviction, President Trump, a prolific Twitter user, has not mentioned the word “rent” once on the platform since at least March 1st, an Accountable.US analysis found. Trump has instead repeatedly touted the stock market and trumpeted support for billion-dollar industries like luxury cruise ships, airlines and mega hotels.
“Inability to pay rent today will be an agonizing moment for millions of families who’ve fallen on hard times through no fault of their own — but you wouldn’t know it listening to the President,” said Kyle Herrig, President of Accountable.US. “These are the Americans that Trump should be up at night worrying about, but he’d rather do favors for wealthy executives sitting on billions of dollars in assets. Today is a sobering reminder why the President and Congress have so much more work to do for families that never thought they’d be forced to choose between food and rent.”
The latest stimulus bill did not go nearly far enough to help Americans left unable to pay rent and make ends meet in the face of a historic economic and health crisis. More can immediately be done like an eviction moratorium, but there is no sense of urgency to work on the next recovery package from the Congressional allies of the former ‘nightmare’ landlord turned President. This weekend, House Minority Leader McCarthy dismissed the idea that more needs to be done to help those in economic distress: “I’m not sure we need a fourth package,” And just yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell echoed that reluctance to act further to help those desperate for help: “I think we need to wait a few days here, a few weeks, and see how things are working out.”
Americans cannot afford for Congress to continue delivering too little, too late during this crisis.