President Trump again threatened to veto the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Tuesday if the bill does not include certain provisions, but the House stands poised to push it through with a veto-proof majority.
The President has demanded the defense bill include provisions ending Section 230, allowing for troop withdrawals, and preserving the names and existence of certain monuments and memorials – including military bases named after Confederate figures.
“I hope House Republicans will vote against the very weak National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which I will VETO,” Trump tweeted.
It “must include a termination of Section 230 (for National Security purposes), preserve our National Monuments, and allow for 5G and [troop] reductions in foreign lands!” he added.
I hope House Republicans will vote against the very weak National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which I will VETO. Must include a termination of Section 230 (for National Security purposes), preserve our National Monuments, & allow for 5G & troop reductions in foreign lands!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 8, 2020
Trump Demands Certain Provisions in Defense Bill
President Trump has long been demanding a repeal of Section 230 which generally provides immunity for website publishers from third-party content.
Big Tech giants such as Facebook and Twitter played a major role in suppressing information prior to this year’s election by censoring claims they deemed false.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 24, 2020
President Trump views Big Tech’s manipulation of information to be such a grave concern that he has lumped the repeal of Section 230 into a bill regarding national security.
“Section 230, which is a liability shielding gift from the U.S. to ‘Big Tech’ (the only companies in America that have it – corporate welfare!),” Trump tweeted last week, “is a serious threat to our National Security and Election Integrity.”
…..Therefore, if the very dangerous & unfair Section 230 is not completely terminated as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), I will be forced to unequivocally VETO the Bill when sent to the very beautiful Resolute desk. Take back America NOW. Thank you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 2, 2020
The bill would also require the Pentagon to rename Confederate-named military bases and other property in three years, setting up a commission to determine how to carry out those changes.
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Trump Calling on Republicans to Prevent a Veto-Proof Majority
Trump’s new call to rally House Republicans to vote against the bill may be designed to prevent the first override of a veto of his tenure in office.
Right now there is overwhelming bipartisan support in both the House and Senate.
House Freedom Caucus to hold press conference this pm on CapHill to support Trump’s threat to veto annual defense bill. Press release says they “will also call out those House Republicans who have said they would move to override the president’s veto.”
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) December 8, 2020
The House is scheduled to take up the bill today, and the Senate shortly thereafter.
In the original version of the bill, the Senate went well above the two-thirds bar for overriding a presidential veto, while the House just managed to eclipse that threshold.
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Fox News reports that President Trump “has vetoed eight measures during his term, but Congress has never successfully overridden one of his vetoes.”
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA) has said Congress will override the veto.
“If the president vetoes it, we will come back to vote to override,” Smith threatened.
“If it takes two-thirds to pass it because the president is being unreasonable, then we will get that.”
