Republicans rebuff Trump on aid cheques and defence bill as Congress wraps up

Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell was one of many Republicans to defy Donald Trump over the two bills Picture: Susan Walsh/AP

The Senate wrapped up a rare New Year’s Day session with Republicans rejecting President Donald Trump’s demand for 2,000 dollar (€1636) Covid-19 aid cheques and overriding his veto of a sweeping defence bill.

The moves came as an emphatic double rebuke of the defeated president at the end of a chaotic Congress.