'Clearly confused': Dems call out Trump after he wrongly says Senate vote still needed on aid bill - USA TODAY

Rebecca Morin USA TODAY

Published 3:18 AM EDT Jun 4, 2019

Corrections & Clarifications: A previous version of this article misstated the area Chuck Schumer represents.

WASHINGTON -- Minutes after the House of Representatives passed a $19.1 billion bipartisan disaster assistance bill, President Donald Trump praised it and called on the Senate to pass the legislation.

The only problem? The Senate already approved it and the bill is now going to Trump to sign.

"House just passed the 19.1 Billion Dollar Disaster Aid Bill. Great, now we will get it done in the Senate!" Trump tweeted Monday evening. "Farmers, Puerto Rico and all will be very happy," Trump wrote in a now-deleted tweet.

The president is currently in London for a state visit to the U.K.

More: Disaster aid passes Congress after months of delays over costs, border wall and Trump's feud with Puerto Rico

Democratic lawmakers were quick to note that the president was wrong, and that the Senate already voted on and passed the legislation.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY., tweeted that the president was "clearly confused."

"President @realDonaldTrump, you’re clearly confused," he wrote. "The Senate passed the bill two weeks ago. Hopefully after blocking it for so long, you’re not too confused to sign it!"

The Senate last month passed the disaster aid package by an 85-8 margin. It was then sent to the House. However, it was held up because the House left on recess just before it got the bill.

House leaders tried to push the bill through three times using a procedure known as "unanimous consent," which allows passage if no one objects. But, a Republican lawmaker objected each time.

The House finally passed the legislation by 354-58 margin on Monday.

Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., tweeted: "Umm, Mr. President, this already passed the Senate. I’m just spit ballin’ here, but there might be someone there that can tell you about that.

He added: "So at this point you just need to go ahead and, um, get out that big magic marker of yours...."

More: Queen Elizabeth's glittery state banquet for Trumps begins with toasts and national anthems

In addition, Rep Bill Foster, D-Ill., also chided the president and GOP lawmakers for his tweet.

"The President may have forgotten that the Senate already passed this bill because his Republican allies in the House have spent the last two weeks blocking it," Foster tweeted.

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