The US House of Representatives has passed a controversial $95 billion aid package for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan. Similar attempts at delivering financial aid had stalled over recent months, as Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson hesitated to bring forth a vote amid objections from GOP hardliners, unenthusiastic about continuing to send more American money to Ukraine.
Reports suggest that the Biden administration is already working on the next aid package for Kyiv as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warns that his country’s weapons stocks are running low and his troops are increasingly unable to fight Russia.
Zelenskyy recently reported that air defense missile shortages meant Ukrainian soldiers could not defend one of the biggest energy plants in the country when it came under Russian bombardment.
Some Republicans reacted with fury to the latest bill’s passing, and 112 voted against it. Georgian Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said Mr. Johnson is a “lame duck.” Taylor Greene has previously passed a motion to vacate the chair and warned she will do so again.
Rep. Bob Good of Virginia also expressed frustration on monetary grounds. He called the legislation a “slide down into the abyss of greater fiscal crisis and America-last policies.” Rep. Troy Nehls of Texas called it a “slap in the face for America,” while Thomas Massie of Kentucky indicated that he would support ousting Johnson should Taylor Greene pursue a second motion.
Donald Trump did not explicitly support the aid package, but he did indicate that he believes American support for Ukraine is essential while simultaneously asking why Europe isn’t paying more.
The legislation contains $61 billion for Ukraine, $26 billion for Israel – including $4 billion for the Iron Dome air defense system that helped thwart a recent drone and missile assault from Iran, and $8 billion for allies in the Indo-Pacific region, including Taiwan. It also contained proposals to force Bytedance, owner of video-sharing platform TikTok, to sell the app or face the prospect of a US nationwide ban.
