It was “try, try again” for House Democrats and the White House on Friday as they sought to revive negotiations on Round 2 of the coronavirus economic stimulus program.

This time, it seemed that President Trump was directly involved, signing off on a $1.8 trillion proposal to be offered to Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

That’s up from a $1.6 White House offer made earlier this week — but well below the $2.2 trillion bill already passed in the House.

If agreement can be reached — a big “if” — much of the money would go directly to Americans as checks designed to help keep the consumer-driven U.S. economy from capsizing.

Pelosi’s deputy chief of staff, Drew Hammill, told CNN that she spoke by phone on Friday with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who, she said, presented “a proposal that attempted to address some of the concerns Democrats have.”

Topping that list, Hammill wrote on Twitter, “is the absence of an agreement on a strategic plan to crush the virus.”

Stimulus negotiations: Trump signs off on a $1.8 trillion counter offer to Pelosihttps://t.co/iwOp4SjRFe

"Of special concern, is the absence of an agreement on a strategic plan to crush the virus,"

— Bob Walker (@BobWalk27936783) October 9, 2020

Mnuchin was to meet with the president Friday afternoon and speak later by phone with Pelosi.

As for Trump, he tweeted on Friday that “Covid Relief Negotiations are moving along. Go Big!”

And he told radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh that he’d “like to see a bigger stimulus package than either the Democrats or Republicans are offering” — which is a 180-degree spin from a statement he made earlier this week. 

Despite that, most Republicans in Congress are pessimistic about getting a deal done.

“The prospects of a compromise remained remote … given the opposition of many Republicans to another large infusion of federal virus aid,” the New York Times said.

“Speaking to reporters in Kentucky, Senator Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, cast doubt on the chances of a deal, saying political divisions remained too deep less than a month before Election Day.”

Many Republicans don’t want to spend any more at all on stimulus checks.

And McConnell himself says confirming the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court is a higher priority than supporting ordinary Americans.

“All of this comes as Trump is sliding in the polls and is sidelined by his Covid-19 infection. The White House is short-staffed and dealing with infections among its staff. And the president and Pelosi are attacking each other’s mental health,” says the Associated Press.