US stocks gain as Pelosi pressures Republicans to pass $2,000 stimulus checks

US stocks gain as Pelosi pressures Republicans to pass $2,000 stimulus checks

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell

Alex Wong/Getty Images; Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images

US stocks gained on Wednesday as President Trump said that he wants Congress to increase the stimulus checks included in the anticipated coronavirus relief deal to $2,000 from $600.Democrats are on board with increasing the amount of direct payments to Americans, with House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi responding to Trump's demand with, "Let's do it!"With a government shutdown deadline fast approaching and much of Congress home for the holidays, a swift passage of an altered stimulus deal seems unlikely.Watch major indexes update live here.

US stocks gained on Wednesday as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi pressured Republicans to get on board with President Trump's request to increase the planned $600 stimulus checks included in the upcoming coronavirus relief package to $2,000.

In a video announcement on Tuesday, Trump signaled he may veto the stimulus deal passed by Congress this week, expressing disappointment in the size of stimulus checks and other spending initiatives attached to the bill.

Democrats were on board with Trump's request. House majority leader Nancy Pelosi responded by saying "Let's do it!" Pelosi is now putting pressure on the GOP to approve an amendment to the bill