‘The people have suffered enough!’: Donald Trump backs Bernie Sanders as the firebrand vows to filibuster and force Senate to sit until the NEW YEAR if vote is not held on bill passed by the House to increase stimulus checks to $2,000 from $600

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President Donald Trump has backed Bernie Sanders' plans to filibuster and force the Senate to sit until the new year if a vote is not held on a bill passed by the House to increase stimulus checks to $2,000 from $600.

Sanders announced his intentions on Monday to slow down the Senate's vote on overriding the president's veto of a huge defense bill unless Senate leaders agree to hold a vote on increasing the amount given to Americans in coronavirus relief funds.

In response to a tweet reporting Sanders' plans and in apparent support of them, the President wrote: 'Give the people $2000, not $600. They have suffered enough!'

Senator Sanders announced his plans on Monday to object to the overriding of the president's veto of the $740 billion the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

A spokesman for Sanders also confirmed that he will object to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) setting up a vote on the veto override of the bill until the proposed aid increase is voted on.

'This week on the Senate floor Mitch McConnell wants to vote to override Trump's veto of the $740 billion defense funding bill and then head home for the New Year,' Sanders tweeted Monday.

'I'm going to object until we get a vote on legislation to provide a $2,000 direct payment to the working class.' 

President Donald Trump has backed plans by firebrand Senator Bernie Sanders to filibuster and force the Senate to sit until 2021 if a vote is not held on a bill passed by the House to increase stimulus checks to $2,000 from $600 

Senator Bernie Sanders Tweeted his plans Monday to object to the overriding of the veto of the $740 billion the National Defense Authorization Act.

US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (pictured) will likely be forced to break a rare filibuster of the veto override efforts

While Sanders cannot ultimately prevent the Senate from voting on whether to override Trump's veto of the defense bill, McConnell will likely be forced to break a rare filibuster of the veto override efforts.

This will force the bill to overcome a 60-vote procedural hurdle and delay the final vote on Trump's veto until later this week.

The NDAA initially passed the Senate earlier this month with a 84-13 majority - with Sanders voting against it at the time. The veto override requires a two-thirds vote in order to pass the Senate.

Sanders also received support from Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) who said he would similarly slow down the defense bill with the hopes of increasing the amount given to Americans as part of the $2.3 trillion coronavirus relief package.

'I will be joining @BernieSanders in blocking the defense bill until we get a vote on $2000 in direct cash relief. That relief passed in the House today with 44 Republicans voting for it. Senate Republicans must do the same and get the American people the help they need,' Markey tweeted.

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) is expected to attempt to bring the House-passed bill to the Senate on Tuesday, but because it would only take a single senator to block his request, he is unlikely to succeed.

Senator Bernie Sanders tweeted on Monday his intention to hold up the Senate's vote to override President Trump's veto of the $740 billion the National Defense Authorization Act until a vote is held on increasing relief checks to $2,000 from $600

In apparent support of Senator Sanders, President Trump tweeted 'Give the people $2000, not $600. They have suffered enough!'

The House of Representatives passed a bill Monday evening that would increase Americans' stimulus checks to $2,000 - something President Donald Trump has also demanded. 

Democrats used a fast-track procedure to get the bill through, meaning two-thirds of the House needed to sign on. 

All but two House Democrats who voted Monday were joined by 44 Republicans to get the bill through, with the final vote total being 275 yeas to 134 nays. 

Twenty-one lawmakers didn't vote. 

After the House of Representatives passed the $2,000 bill, Sanders said he would hold up the expected veto override of the National Defense Authorization Act in order to get it across the line in the Senate. 

'I'm going to object until we get a vote on legislation to provide a $2,000 direct payment to the working class,' Sanders said.    

Now the bill's fate is in the Senate's hands - where Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has not been openly supportive.

On Sunday night when Trump signed the giant spending and COVID-19 stimulus bill - after flirting with vetoing it for several days - he repeated his demand for Americans to receive $2,000 checks, instead or the $600 payments outlined in the legislation. 

'As President, I have told Congress that I want far less wasteful spending and more money going to the American people in the form of $2,000 checks per adult and $600 per child,' Trump said. 

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is seen on Capitol Hill Monday. Pelosi and House Democrats were successful in passing a bill that would increase Americans' stimulus checks to $2,000 

Just two Democrats defected from their caucus, while 44 Republicans joined the effort to increase the stimulus checks to $2,000, up from the $600 that was originally in the COVID-19 relief legislation 

Pelosi and the Democrats voted in favor of the legislation and were joined by several dozen Republicans as well

President Donald Trump in a golf cart on his West Pal Beach golf course on Monday

President Trump golfs nearly daily when he is Palm Beach, staying at Mar-a-Lago

President Trump playing golf for the fourth time since he arrived in Florida

President Trump's public schedule notes he is working 'tirelessly' for the American people; above he's seen on his golf course 

Last week, seemingly out of nowhere, Trump announced he was thinking about vetoing the legislation after it overwhelmingly passed Congress Tuesday and was sent to his desk for signature.   

Trump ended a crisis of his own making Sunday by finally signing the $2.3 trillion bill, which includes the $900 billion in coronavirus relief and $1.4 trillion for government funding through September 2021.

His signage stopped 14 million Americans from losing their unemployment benefits boost, courtesy of previous relief packages, and averted a government shutdown in the midst of the pandemic.

Although the bipartisan bill was signed, it was sent back to Congress with several red line items from the president marking out the spending he wants cut. 

The president does not have the power to line-item veto per a Supreme Court ruling that it is unconstitutional. 

'I will send back to Congress a redlined version, item by item, accompanied by the formal rescission request to Congress insisting that those funds be removed from the bill,' Trump said in a strongly-worded statement Sunday night accompanied by the signage announcement.

His signature came after he spent much of his weekend golfing in Mar-a-Lago railing against the legislation.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell released a statement lauding Trump for signing the bill, but made no mentions of the president's demands for cutting spending and increasing direct checks for Americans from $600 to $2,000

The president was largely absent while his administration negotiated the details of the final package with Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill.

But, on Sunday night, came Trump's sudden reversal.  

'I am signing this bill to restore unemployment benefits, stop evictions, provide rental assistance, add money for PPP, return our airline workers back to work, add substantially more money for vaccine distribution, and much more,' Trump said of signing the legislative package that a week earlier he called a 'disgrace.'

The White House issued a strongly-worded statement from the president with the signing announcement, where Trump said he was sending it back with lines marking out the spending he wants cut.

'I will send back to Congress a redlined version, item by item, accompanied by the formal rescission request to Congress insisting that those funds be removed from the bill,' Trump said in the statement. 

Additionally, many of the spending items in the federal budget that Trump wants cut were in his original budget request to Congress earlier this year.  

The White House also claimed it was getting other concessions from Capitol Hill, including that the Senate will start the process for $2,000 stimulus checks, will repeal section 230 that gives protections to tech companies from lawsuits, and start investigation into voter fraud. 

Trump previewed his signage in a tweet shortly before signing the bill at his Mar-a-Lago club: 'Good news on Covid Relief Bill. Information to follow!'

McConnell released a statement applauding Trump's signing the $900 billion relief and funding package but made no mention of the three items Trump claimed he was getting the Senate to do. 

'I thank the President for signing this relief into law, along with full-year government funding legislation that will continue the rebuilding and modernization of our Armed Forces that his Administration has championed. His leadership has prevented a government shutdown at a time when our nation could not have afforded one,' McConnell said.

'I am glad the American people will receive this much-needed assistance as our nation continues battling this pandemic,' he added. 

He didn't mention increasing the dollar amount in the checks.  

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called on Trump to persuade Republicans in joining Democrats to expand the amount of the relief checks.

'Now, the President must immediately call on Congressional Republicans to end their obstruction and to join him and Democrats in support of our stand-alone legislation to increase direct payment checks to $2,000, which will be brought to the Floor tomorrow. Every Republican vote against this bill is a vote to deny the financial hardship that families face and to deny the American people the relief they need,' Pelosi said in statement Sunday night. 

Senate Democrat Leader Chuck Schumer issued his own pressure.

'The House will pass a bill to give Americans $2,000 checks. Then I will move to pass it in the Senate. No Democrats will object. Will Senate Republicans?,' he said. 

Additionally, the current session of Congress ends on January 3rd, which leaves very little time on the calendar to get such work done.  

Earlier Sunday night, before leaving his Mar-a-Lago home to have dinner at his Trump International Golf Club, the president hinted at his plans, tweeting: 'Good news on Covid Relief Bill. Information to follow!' 

A short time later, a source confirmed to DailyMail.com that Trump signed the bill Sunday evening at Mar-a-Lago.

After signing the bill, Trump still demanded the $2,000 stimulus checks for Americans in a statement that reads: 'As President, I have told Congress that I want far less wasteful spending and more money going to the American people in the form of $2,000 checks per adult and $600 per child. 

Had Trump continued with his threat not to sign the legislation, the federal government would've run out of money at 12:01 am Tuesday.  

In the face of growing economic hardship and spreading disease, lawmakers urged Trump on Sunday to sign the legislation immediately, then have Congress follow up with additional aid. 

Aside from unemployment benefits and relief payments to families, money for vaccine distribution, businesses, cash-starved public transit systems and more is on the line. Protections against evictions also hang in the balance.

Senator Lindsey Graham arrived in Mar-a-Lago to play golf with Trump on Christmas Day and discuss the legislation with the president.

Other Republicans, including House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy and several Republican senators spent the weekend working to convince Trump to sign off on the bill, multiple sources told Politico.

Republicans also took to the Sunday morning political shows to pressure Trump to sign the legislation. 

Republican Sen Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania said he understood that Trump 'wants to be remembered for advocating for big checks, but the danger is he'll be remembered for chaos and misery and erratic behavior if he allows this to expire'.

'So I think the best thing to do, as I said, sign this and then make the case for subsequent legislation,' Toomey added during his appearance on 'Fox News Sunday.'

Additionally, the bipartisan group of lawmakers involved in the original negotiations issued a statement earlier Sunday demanding Trump sign the bill or veto it if he didn't like it so Congress could vote on overriding that veto. 

'If your objection to the COVID-19 relief bill will prevent you from signing, please veto it immediately. You've made your position clear and rejecting it quickly will allow those in favor to act before it is too late,' the lawmakers wrote. 

'Never before in your personal, professional, or political life have you been characterized as a man of inaction. Now is not the time to sit idly by - please do the right thing and sign or veto this bill immediately.' 

The group included Republican Senators Mitt Romney and Susan Collins along with Democratic Senator Joe Manchin. 

'Relieved that this long-awaited, bipartisan emergency #COVID19 legislation has finally been signed into law. Help is now on the way to workers, families, and small businesses across the country who are desperately in need,' Romney tweeted after Trump signed the measure. 

Trump had demanded the size of the relief checks to be tripled from $600 to $2,000, which the House will vote on Monday

In the face of growing economic hardship and spreading disease, lawmakers urged Trump on Sunday to sign the legislation immediately, then have Congress follow up with additional aid. Trump is pictured playing golf at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach Sunday

President Donald Trump (left) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (right) headed to the president's West Palm Beach golf club on Christmas morning where Graham talked to Trump about the COVID relief and government funding bill

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (left) called on President Trump to get Republicans like Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell to help expand the stimulus checks to $2,000

Many Republicans criticized the president on Sunday morning for refusing to sign the package. 

On Saturday, two critical unemployment programs lapsed, ending millions of people's unemployment benefits. While Trump's signature returns the benefits, there could be a delay in the checks coming during the holidays. 

Maryland Gov Larry Hogan, a Republican who's criticized Trump's pandemic response and his efforts to undo the election results. 

'I just gave up guessing what he might do next,' he said.

Republican Rep Adam Kinzinger of Illinois said too much is at stake for Trump to 'play this old switcheroo game'.

'I don't get the point,' he said. 'I don't understand what's being done, why, unless it's just to create chaos and show power and be upset because you lost the election.' 

Democrats also piled onto the president.

Sen. Bernie Sanders said Trump was behaving as an 'extraordinary narcissist' and was almost 'pathologically narcissistic' in his eleventh-hour crusade against the bill. 

'What the president is doing right now is unbelievably cruel,' Sanders told ABC's 'This Week' host Jonathan Karl in a Sunday interview.

'Many millions of people are losing their extended unemployment benefits,' the independent Vermont senator continued. 'They're going to be evicted from their apartments because the eviction moratorium is ending. We are looking at a way to get the vaccine distributed to tens of millions of people. There's money in that bill.'  

Earlier on Saturday night, the president returned with another round of claims of election fraud in a fiery Twitter tirade in which he concluded 'We will win'.

He blasted the FBI, the U.S. court system and the Department of Justice before declaring that the country's electoral system is 'like that of a third world country'.

Trump called on Republicans to help him fight for the presidency as he took further hits and the press and tech companies amid allegations of voter fraud that U.S. courts and the Justice Department have deemed to be unfounded.

'Time for Republican Senators to step up and fight for the Presidency, like the Democrats would do if they had actually won,' Trump wrote in a Twitter thread.

GOP Sen. Pat Toomey also railed against the president Sunday, claiming he will be remembered for 'chaos and misery and erratic behavior' if he doesn't sign the coroanvirus relief bill that went to his desk last week

Earlier on Saturday night, President Trump returned with another round of claims of election fraud in a fiery Twitter tirade in which he concluded 'We will win'

President-elect Biden pictured here, on his way to church in Wilmington, Delaware, on Saturday, had called on Trump to sign the legislation

'The proof is irrefutable! Massive late night mail-in ballot drops in swing states, stuffing the ballot boxes (on video), double voters, dead voters, ...fake signatures, illegal immigrant voters, banned Republican vote watchers, MORE VOTES THAN ACTUAL VOTERS (check out Detroit & Philadelphia), and much more,' he added, despite his campaign having so far being able to offer no evidence to prove that any of these allegations were true and his lawsuits being dismissed.

'The numbers are far greater than what is necessary to win the individual swing states, and cannot even be contested.... Courts are bad, the FBI and 'Justice' didn't do their job, and the United States Election System looks like that of a third world country,' Trump fumed.

'Freedom of the press has been gone for a long time, it is Fake News, and now we have Big Tech (with Section 230) to deal with.

'But when it is all over, and this period of time becomes just another ugly chapter in our Country's history, WE WILL WIN!!!' the president concluded.

President-elect Joe Biden had called on Trump to sign the bill immediately as the midnight Saturday deadline neared for two federal programs providing unemployment aid.

'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,' Biden said in a statement. 

He accused Trump of an 'abdication of responsibility' that has 'devastating consequences.'