The Senate is closer to passing a $95.3 billion foreign aid bill to help Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, despite Trump’s rallying during the weekend urging Republicans to tank it.
Trump’s message to Senate
The former president made his intentions clear, writing on Truth Social, “From this point forward, are you listening U.S. Senate(?).” He added, “No money in the form of foreign aid should be given to any country unless it is done as a loan, not just a giveaway.” Trump continued, “The United States of America should be ‘stupid’ no longer!”
But the Senate is moving forward
On Sunday, however, the Democratic-led Senate voted 67-27 to clear the latest procedural limitation, moving the foreign aid efforts towards an ultimate vote expected to happen in the upcoming days. Among those who voted to continue with efforts to pass the bill were 18 Senate Republicans.
Senate’s signals to House Republicans
Senator Todd Young, a Republican from Indiana, believes this vote “will shape the environment such that … more Republicans will feel comfortable advancing the bill.” The bill would provide $60 billion to support Ukraine, $14 billion for Israel, $8 billion for Taiwan, and $9.2 billion in humanitarian assistance for Gaza.
Trump spent the weekend opposing the bill
During his South Carolina rallies, the former president said Russia should be able to do “whatever the hell they want” to NATO members who do not meet their defense spending targets. He explained “They want to give like almost $100 billion to a few countries, $100 billion,” and wondered, “I said, ‘Why do we do this? If you do, you give them, not $100 billion, you give it to ‘em as a loan.'”
The comments did not sit well with some Republicans
Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski labeled Trump’s comments “uncalled for,” while Senator Rand Paul from Kentucky said it was a “stupid thing to say.” Texas Senator John Cornyn urged people not to take Trump “literally.” Senator Paul still insists on addressing the border crisis first, “We shouldn’t be sending anything overseas until we secure (our own) border.”
South Dakota Senator on Trump’s remarks
“None of us want to see a war in Europe, and I don’t think he does either. And, very clearly, we’re going to defend our NATO allies, and I’m quite certain the president does not want to see us in a war with Russia,” said Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota.
Senator Rubio defended Trump
In an interview, Florida Senator Marco Rubio told CNN, “Virtually every American president at some point, in some way, has complained about other countries in NATO not doing enough. Trump’s just the first one to express it in these terms. But I have zero concern because he’s been president before.”
Graham brushed off the remarks
Senator Lindsey Graham, South Carolina, told Reuters about Trump’s statements that “Russia didn’t invade anybody when he was president, and if he’s president again, they won’t.” Senator Thom Tillis of Florida did not blame Trump but said, “Shame on his briefers,” Politico reported.
The contradiction
Many Republicans expressed they would no longer support aid for Ukraine unless the bill provided border policy changes. But just days before, the bipartisan bill that combined foreign assistance and border security reforms, which was months in the making, was blocked, with the GOP arguing it did not provide enough security for the border.
Trump urged GOP to kill that bill
The former president and likely GOP nominee wrote on Truth Social, “Only a fool, or a Radical Left Democrat, would vote for this horrendous Border Bill, which only gives Shutdown Authority after 5000 Encounters a day, when we already have the right to CLOSE THE BORDER NOW, which must be done.”
What will Johnson do?
If the latest foreign aid bill passes the Senate, it will end up in the House, and Speaker Johnson’s response to the bipartisan deal echoed Trump’s statements. Johnson defended the House GOP conference’s position on border security by saying, among other things, that Trump’s not the one in charge, “He’s not calling the shots. I am calling the shots for the House.” It remains unclear if the bill will get House’s approval.
Schumer is pleased with the latest development in the Senate
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said, “I can’t remember the last time the Senate was in session on Super Bowl Sunday,” adding, “But as I’ve said all week long, we’re going to keep working on this bill until the job is done.”
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