Presidential advisor Larry Kudlow claimed that President Trump is pushing for a coronavirus relief bill that would exceed the $2.2 trillion proposal advocated by House Democrats, a complete reversal to the earlier position that the administration would not push above $1.5 trillion, CNN reports.

“[Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin] is up to 1.8 trillion. So the bid and the offer is narrowing somewhat between the two sides. President Trump actually has always said — I mean, I’ve heard him say it in the oval — as far as the key elements are concerned, the checks, the unemployment assistance, the small business assistance, we’ve got to help airlines out, he would go further. He’s always said that,” Kudlow said.

Mnuchin has led republican efforts to negotiate with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, who led the Democratic House to pass a $3.5 stimulus package in May.  The Senate, led by republican Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell, has been ineffective in crafting a counteroffer.

Hoping to get checks bedecked with his name to voters before Election Day, Trump may look at a stimulus deal as his last best hope of showing any leadership during the coronavirus.  Last week, he tweeted that no negotiations would continue until after he won reelection, a long-shot prospect according to recent polls.

However, any stimulus package would not be passed until after the election, given the schedules of the House and the Senate, and Trump would have to wrangle an uncooperative republican caucus.