As uncertainty over the fate of the second stimulus bill continues, President Donald J Trump appears to be moving closer to the Democrats' $22 trillion proposal as Senate Republicans continue to break away

The President told Fox Business Network on Thursday that Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who is negotiating with Democrats on behalf of the White House, could propose a stimulus package of more than $18 trillion (the amount recently proposed by the administration)

"I told him 'So far, he hasn't come home with the bacon

Trump's comments came the morning after Mnuchin suggested that an agreement was unlikely to be reached before Election Day Mnuchin is still in talks with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (R-Calif), but the two are at odds over the specifics of the bailout package and total spending

House Democrats, led by Pelosi, recently passed a $22 trillion stimulus bill The bill would reauthorize $1,200 checks to eligible Americans, resume federal subsidies for state unemployment benefits, and provide assistance to state and local governments to deal with the coronavirus and shore up taxpayer-funded, exhausted budgets

The latter detail, along with additional funding for lab testing, has provoked resistance from the White House and many Republicans

Pelosi has refused to budge on her position, despite pleas from many members of her own party to pass a compromise bill Judging by President Trump's recent statements, this strategy may be working

The president tweeted Thursday that he is "ready to sign" the stimulus bill as soon as it is agreed upon But he may not want to be perceived as giving in to Pelosi's demands

Fox Business Network's Stuart Varney asked Trump this morning why he would not accept Pelosi's $22 trillion deal

According to Politico, Trump replied, "Because she wants all sorts of favorable terms 'She wants to bail out states and cities that are terrible for Democrats She wants money for things that you would never do, things that you can't do, things that your pride won't allow you to do"

But even as Democrats and the White House seem to be moving toward consensus, Senate Republicans are breaking away altogether

The Senate Judiciary Committee is focused on hearings for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) has indicated that he will force a vote on a $500 billion bill that Democrats will likely reject next week when the Senate plenary session resumes Republicans' previous attempts to pass a "skinny" package also failed

Shortly after McConnell announced this "skinny" bill on Tuesday, Trump tweeted, "STIMULUS! Go big or go home!

Speaking locally on Thursday, McConnell rejected Trump's proposal for a $18 trillion+ stimulus package

"I don't think so I don't think so," McConnell said my members think that a half trillion dollars, highly targeted, is the best way to go"

Asked about the more expensive compromise that Mnuchin and Pelosi are still trying to hammer out, McConnell replied, "That's not something I would put on the floor"

The Senate bill is not expected to include funding for the stimulus package2 Instead, it will focus on a payroll protection program to help businesses pay their salaries, funding for coronavirus testing, and liability protection for businesses