Former President Trump’s plan to qualify Ukraine aid as a loan could be the decisive factor in pushing additional aid across the finish line in Congress.
Several Congressional aides on both sides of the aisle said they could support Trump’s idea of aid in the form of perpetual, interest-free loans to the country, which is at war with Russia. Such a measure would be particularly likely to be supported if it is determined to be the only way to pass aid measures to Ukraine and Israel.
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Former President Trump’s Ukraine loan initiative could unite Democrats and Republicans in the Senate as they seek aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. (Getty Images)
Last weekend’s Iranian drone attack on Israel added a new sense of urgency to already underway lobbying Congress for support.
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The Senate passed a $95.3 billion foreign aid package in February that included aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. Despite passing the Senate, it succeeded in dividing the Republican conference, some of whom were critical of continuing aid to Ukraine. Many Republican senators were also unhappy that the package did not mention the southern border.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is calling for more aid for his country. (Viktor Kovalchuk/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) has not yet brought the additional bill to the House floor for a vote, even though many House Republicans have urged him to do so. The bill has a good chance of passing, but there was significant Republican opposition.
With the future direction of foreign aid still uncertain, House Republican leaders are scheduled to meet Monday night to discuss possible responses to both Israel and Ukraine.
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Multiple Democratic congressional aides say the Iran attack makes it unlikely that Senate Democrats will follow through on a stand-alone Israel bill. Part of the reason is that aid to Ukraine will be more difficult to pass without being linked to Israel. One Democratic aide even suggested that without a quota for Ukraine, unilateral aid for Israel would be difficult to pass.
Anti-missile systems are activated after Iran launches a drone and missile toward Israel, seen from Ashkelon, Israel, April 14, 2024. (Reuters/Amir Cohen)
Iran’s attacks on Israel are likely to prompt Democrats to push harder for the House to take up additional legislation passed by the Senate, one congressional aide said.
Senate Democrats still prefer the supplemental bill and believe it is the quickest way to get aid to Israel, but they are not completely opposed to other ways to get aid.
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Two aides told Fox News Digital that many Senate Democrats are willing to extend aid to Ukraine and Israel in line with President Trump’s proposal, with the condition that the aid be extended in the form of loans. The company is positive about promoting a package that combines the following.
U.S. Capitol Building photographed on August 6, 2022 at the Capitol in Washington, DC (Anna Rose Leyden/Getty Images)
This is especially true when it provides an opportunity to get aid to both countries more quickly.
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Two Republican aides said Republicans have expressed similar interest in the idea of aid in the form of loans.
Senate Republican aides said the Senate likely remains motivated to pursue additional legislation, which has passed but is deeply divided among Republicans. Rather, recent attacks on Israel have renewed calls for channeling aid to Israel separately from Ukraine and Taiwan, a move that Democrats have largely rejected.
