Former President Donald Trump once again endorsed House Speaker Mike Johnson after $95 billion in aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan was passed over the weekend.
“Look, we have a majority, okay? It’s not like he can do whatever he wants,” Trump, 77, said. Said Radio host John Fredericks appears on Real America’s Voice Monday night.
“I think he’s a very good person. You know, he supported me very strongly on NATO,” Trump said, referring to a campaign rally where he urged member nations to increase common defense spending. Failure to do so would force Russia to “do whatever they want,” he added.
“I think he’s trying very hard,” the 45th president concluded.
Mr. Johnson (R-Louisiana) rejected much of Saturday’s meeting and joined with 210 House Democrats to pass $60.8 billion to aid Ukraine’s war against Russia.
“Our three main adversaries – Russia, Iran and China – are working together,” the chairman declared after the vote. “Their advances threaten the free world and require American leadership.”
With the early departures of Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), the House Republican majority has shrunk to 217-213. did. .
That means Republicans can pass the bill by losing just one vote from a member of the conference. (The same vote is rejected in the House.)
Eight Republicans, led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), expelled McCarthy last October following a similar dispute over government spending, including accusations of a side agreement between him and the president of Ukraine. I voted.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) led opposition to the bill on Saturday, saying nearly 80% of the bill would replenish the U.S. weapons stockpile and that Johnson would “defend America.” “I betrayed him,” he said, calling on him to resign on Sunday.
Russian media similarly accused Johnson of giving him a ‘traitor look’, BBC News report.
“Mike Johnson’s speech is over. He needs to do the right thing and resign and allow us to move forward in a managed process. If he doesn’t, he will be fired.” ,” Green said on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures.”
Two other House Republicans, Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Paul Gosar of Arizona, signed a motion by Greene to vacate Johnson’s chairmanship ahead of the vote.
All three cited Mr. Johnson’s failure to secure the U.S. border amid the growing immigration crisis, and Mr. Massey accused him of being run over by Democrats during recent negotiations over government spending.
“They roll him over every time. Like, [Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023]Kevin [McCarthy] I received a 1% share and other things,” Massey told the Post on Saturday.
“But Speaker Johnson isn’t bringing anything home, so I think he’s either a bad negotiator and not equipped for the job, or he’s working for another team. thinking.”
Johnson: “I inherited an unalterable budget deal set by my predecessor.” told RealClearPolitics He spoke about the size of the government spending bill in an interview last week.
“The other three of the four corners immediately reminded me, ‘No, it’s a done deal,'” he said. “So we did our best to protect our policy priorities within that.”
Mr. Massey and other conservative House Republicans saw Mr. Johnson’s reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which allows the warrantless collection of Americans’ data, as another betrayal.
The foreign aid package authorizes the seizure of $5 billion in Russian central bank assets to help rebuild Ukraine after the war ends, and an additional $9.5 billion in loans to Kiev.
“I said, ‘Get money in the form of loans,’ and to some extent they did that,” Trump said in an interview Monday night, before claiming: ”
“Europe should be paying for this at the same level as us, but they are not doing so,” the former president added. “Europe is $100 billion behind us.”
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, introduced an amendment to ensure that U.S. loans to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy are used to pay down the national debt.
But other Senate Republicans, like J.D. Vance of Ohio, argue that aid to Ukraine only “prolongs a bloody and terrible war” and should be opposed.
“Despite its strict conscription policy, Ukraine needs more soldiers than it can deploy. And it needs more supplies than the United States can provide,” Vance wrote. New York Times editorial last week. “This reality should influence future Ukraine policy, from further Congressional support to the president’s foreign policy.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), an ardent Trump ally and supporter of pro-Ukrainian aid, dismissed Vance’s criticism as “garbage” during an appearance on “Fox News Sunday.” .
“We just got back from there two weeks ago. They changed the draft law. They have all the personnel they need,” Graham said. “They need weapons.”
“I challenge J.D. Vance to go to Ukraine, get briefed by the Ukrainian military, talk to the Ukrainian people, and then tell us what you think,” Graham added. “I’ll be there again, so please come.”
If the Senate passes the aid bill and President Biden signs it into law, the U.S. will have approved nearly $160 billion for Ukraine since the February 2022 invasion of Russia. authorized by the European Union.
