Trump Vetoes Defense Bill Over Section 230 Big Tech Protections

President Donald Trump on Wednesday vetoed the $740.5 billion U.S. defense policy bill, touching off a battle with Congress that could end in his first override by lawmakers, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi promising action next week.

In his veto statement, Trump called the annual defense measure a “gift” to China and Russia, saying it failed “to include critical national security measures, includes provisions that fail to respect our veterans and our military’s history.”

House and Senate members have already been notified that they might be called back to Washington next week to override the veto. The bill passed both chambers with enough support to reach the two-thirds threshold to overrule the president, although some members could change their votes.

Trump didn’t speak to reporters on Wednesday afternoon as he left Washington to spend the Christmas holiday at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

He wanted to attach to the defense measure an unrelated provision to eliminate Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects technology companies from liability for most content published by their users. He repeatedly tweeted veto warnings if Congress did not make that part of the annual legislation.

Trump has also threatened to veto the legislation because it contained a provision for renaming military installations that honor Confederate generals.

The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Jim Inhofe, said the defense bill is “vital to our national security and our troops.” Inhofe, an Oklahoma Republican, said Trump’s complaints about technology liability could be addressed in different legislation.

“Our men and women who volunteer to wear the uniform shouldn’t be denied what they need— ever,” Inhofe said in a statement shortly after Trump vetoed the bill. “I hope all of my colleagues in Congress will join me in making sure our troops have the resources and equipment they need to defend this nation.”

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