"You don't get everything you want, even if you're president of the United States," said the Pennsylvania Republican, who voted for the bill despite his own objections to some of its provisions.
Trump has denounced the legislation as a "disgrace" for spending he believes is unnecessary, as well as a direct payment to taxpayers of $600 he deems insufficient and would like to see increased to $2,000. Toomey shared some of the president's spending concerns, but said it was necessary to compromise because Democrats control the House and the COVID relief is badly needed.
Toomey did not agree the direct payments should be increased, however, arguing the majority of Americans have not lost income during the coronavirus pandemic. He suggested the president could back the separate Democratic proposal to increase the payments to $2,000 rather than rejecting the package that was already agreed upon.
"We've got a bill right now that his administration helped negotiate. I think we ought to get that done," Toomey said.
"I understand he wants to be remembered for advocating for big checks, but the danger is he'll be remembered for chaos and misery, and erratic behavior," Tommey said.
Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., denounced "the chaos of the whole thing" after Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin negotiated the bill on the president's behalf.
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