Lindsey Graham backs Trump on $2,000 coronavirus relief payments

Sen Lindsey Graham has broken with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's opposition to an increase of the $600 coronavirus relief direct payments to $2,000.

The senator, who after being a vocal detractor of Donald Trump has become one of his staunchest allies, has not unexpectedly sided with the president in the ongoing battle over coronavirus relief funding.

Mr Trump threatened to veto the $900bn coronavirus relief bill, which was packaged with the nation's defense spending budget for the coming year. He opposed it because he wanted the direct payments to Americans raised to $2,000 per adult, and because he opposed various spending items in the bill, including foreign aid.

Without the budget in place, the government was at risk of shutting down, which would have been devastating for the millions of Americans who still rely on unemployment payments after losing their jobs due to the pandemic.