President Trump defied Congress on Wednesday, vetoing the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Why it matters: The House and Senate passed the $740 billion defense spending bill with veto-proof majorities, setting up a potential override fight.
- The House is set to reconvene for a vote on Dec. 28, with the Senate following on Dec. 29 if the House successfully overrides the veto.
Driving the news: Trump had previously pledged to veto the bill if Congress did not repeal Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which grants liability protections for social media companies.
- Trump also opposes legislation in the bill that proposes renaming 10 military installations currently named after Confederate leaders.
What he's saying: "The Act fails even to make any meaningful changes to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, despite bipartisan calls for repealing that provision," Trump said in a message to the House Wednesday.
- "My Administration recognizes the importance of the Act to our national security. Unfortunately, the Act fails to include critical national security measures, includes provisions that fail to respect our veterans and our military's history, and contradicts efforts by my Administration to put America first in our national security and foreign policy actions," he added.
- "It is a 'gift' to China and Russia."
Several Democrats swiftly criticized Trump's move. ...
- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.): "The President’s veto of the National Defense Authorization Act is an act of staggering recklessness that harms our troops, endangers our security and undermines the will of the bipartisan Congress. ... Next week, December 28, the