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A growing number of voices, however, say that a one-time payment of $1200 per month isn't enough to get by.
In New York City, the epicenter of the virus in the United States, monthly rent for an apartment routinely exceeds $1000, and the prices of groceries and other necessities easily surpass a remaining $200.
For the millions of Americans suddenly unemployed—many of them living paycheck to paycheck—a $1200 check only partially relieves their expenses.
President Donald Trump's Treasury Secretary, Steve Mnuchin, doesn't seem to get that.
When asked how long he expected these checks to last Americans, his answer spoke volumes.
Watch below.
Steve Mnuchin thinks Americans can live on $1,200 for 10 weeks. https://t.co/GrS0ON4gcm— Brianna Westbrook (@Brianna Westbrook) 1586992453.0
Mnuchin said:
"These checks in the mail or direct deposit, it's really bridge liquidity for people as they go through these difficult times...I think the entire package provides economic relief overall for about 10 weeks."
While the package's other nearly-depleted loan allocations may allow some small businesses to stay afloat for 10 weeks, the $1200 payments Mnuchin was speaking of before barely last a fraction of that—especially in the large metropoles hardest hit by the virus.
It's not necessarily surprising, however, that Mnuchin would think this.
Since his appointment to the Treasury Department, he and his wife have come under fire for flaunting their opulent lifestyle on social media.
From an Instagram post of Mnuchin and his wife exiting a government plane, in which she listed all the designers she was wearing...
To pictures of Mnuchin posing with gold bars...
Treasury Department
To posing with freshly-printed bills at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing...
you cannot parody these folks https://t.co/PfDXB0qXTp— southpaw (@southpaw) 1510773034.0
The Mnuchins haven't hesitated to flaunt a brand of affluence that puts them out of touch with the vast majority of Americans.
The Treasury Secretary's answer only cemented that perception.
In a cruel illustration of how out of touch the GOP is with working Americans, Steve Mnuchin claims $1200 is enoughâ�¦ https://t.co/OYpDWyJmX7— Qasim Rashid for Congress (@Qasim Rashid for Congress) 1587047249.0
You know how really super rich people are SO rich, they have no idea of the ACTUAL value of a dollar? That's Steveâ�¦ https://t.co/4Xnxng9EBO— Andrea G â�¢ (@Andrea G â�¢) 1587050375.0
Yes, I can imagine people who are really struggling sitting around dinner, sipping chardonnay, talking about stretcâ�¦ https://t.co/DxpoMInjbu— John Weaver (@John Weaver) 1587041797.0
Steve Mnuchin thinks Americans can survive on just $1200 for 10 weeks, which comes out to around $17 per day. Thatâ��â�¦ https://t.co/fcll2401yi— Eugene Gu, MD (@Eugene Gu, MD) 1587048230.0
Steve Mnuchin owns at least 6 houses and is worth $400 million according to Forbes. Yet he says $1200 is enough fâ�¦ https://t.co/I87cUSHHrG— Katie Hill (@Katie Hill) 1587043307.0
"I mean, it's one banana, Michael. What could it cost? Ten dollars?" - Lucille Bluth -- Steve Mnuchin https://t.co/jtkmCeFis8— Matt Crayne (@Matt Crayne) 1586986784.0
Several people thought the Mnuchins attempting to live on $1200 for 10 weeks would make for great television.
Here is Steve Mnuchin, whose net worth is $400 million saying that $1,200 is intended to be "bridge liquidity" forâ�¦ https://t.co/dJg4B2va0N— Amee Vanderpool (@Amee Vanderpool) 1587052370.0
I'd absolutely watch a TV show where Steve Mnuchin and his wife were forced to survive on $1,200 for 10 weeks. https://t.co/3GaDj2zaTp— batkaren (@batkaren) 1587046679.0
Hey, @BravoTV, you are totally sleeping on this new reality TV show: make Steve Mnuchin and his skeevy wife try toâ�¦ https://t.co/7RmnIYNxwN— Holly Figueroa O'Reilly (@Holly Figueroa O'Reilly) 1587047241.0
Americans are hurting, and that pain likely won't be alleviated any time soon if the Treasury Secretary thinks $1200 can last any American over two months.