Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell urged lawmakers to continue supporting Ukraine and criticized President Biden for not being decisive enough in response to Russian aggression, emphasizing the importance of aiding Ukraine in weakening Russia without military conflict. McConnell's stance contrasts with some Republicans who have called for reducing aid to Ukraine. The Biden administration has requested roughly $40 billion in supplemental funding, with about half of it allocated for Ukraine. McConnell stated that lawmakers will have the opportunity to vote on this aid when considering a short-term spending deal.
Opposing GOP views on U.S. funding to Ukraine are setting up a showdown between Republicans in the House and Senate, with conservative members threatening a government shutdown if their demands are not included in the spending measure.
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley is advocating for a more assertive U.S. foreign policy, including sending special forces to Mexico to combat drug cartels, increasing military aid to Ukraine, and warning China against attacking Taiwan, despite her party's growing isolationist tendencies.
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley criticized President Biden's Cabinet members' recent trips to China as "embarrassing" and a form of appeasement towards the country, calling for a more serious approach towards China.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the House GOP stopgap funding proposal for not including funding for Ukraine and accused Republicans of ignoring bipartisan solutions to keep the government open.
The United States has provided over $100 billion in aid to Ukraine in its efforts to resist Russia's invasion, but there is growing Republican skepticism about continuing to fund the war effort.
House Republicans are facing opposition from right-wing members as they try to pass a funding bill to prevent a government shutdown, including funding for Ukraine, which Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called "an insult to Ukraine and a gift to Putin."
Republican lawmakers are opposing further aid to Ukraine, raising questions about the allocation of funds and the progress made against Russia, stating that it would be an "absurd abdication of congressional responsibility" to grant the White House's request without answers.
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley unveiled an economic proposal aimed at cutting middle-class taxes, reducing government control, and tackling inflation, while criticizing both Democrats and Republicans for reckless federal spending.
Senators from both parties are debating whether to include new military aid for Ukraine in a stopgap spending bill to prevent a government shutdown, with some Republicans concerned about complicating Speaker Kevin McCarthy's attempts to resolve the spending logjam.
Senate Republicans and Democrats have reached an agreement on a stopgap spending plan to prevent a government shutdown, but it faces resistance in the Republican-led House due to opposition to aid for Ukraine and maintaining federal funding at current levels.
Republicans in Congress are divided over whether the United States should continue to provide aid to Ukraine, with some expressing skepticism and hostility towards supporting the besieged country, even though the aid has been crucial in fending off Russia's advance; the opposition to Ukraine aid among Republicans has been driven in part by right-wing figures such as Tucker Carlson and former President Donald Trump, who have spread false narratives and influenced the party's base to turn against the aid.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has rejected a bipartisan Senate stopgap measure that funds the government and provides aid to Ukraine, citing the lack of border security measures.
House Democrats and Republicans defeated proposals to cut Ukraine funding in defense spending legislation, revealing significant GOP opposition to continued aid for Ukraine amidst the ongoing war with Russia.
Growing Republican divisions over U.S. aid to Ukraine are posing a threat to Congress passing additional funding to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia, raising concerns of a government shutdown and highlighting a new isolationist streak within the party.
Senator Rand Paul threatens to stall a Senate government funding bill due to $6 billion in funding for Ukraine included in the bill.
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a stopgap funding bill, which maintains current spending levels for 45 days, includes $16 billion in disaster relief, but excludes Ukraine aid and border policy changes, and the bill has been sent to the Senate for a vote.
Summary:
GOP Rep. Byron Donalds expressed uncertainty about whether he would vote to remove Rep. Kevin McCarthy from his position as House Speaker, but acknowledged that McCarthy may be in danger of losing his leadership role due to distrust within the chamber; Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi advised Democrats to follow the lead of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on the potential vote to remove McCarthy; White House budget director Shalanda Young called on Congress to pass full-year funding bills and avoid another government shutdown; GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz announced his intention to file a motion to remove McCarthy as Speaker of the House, citing concerns about trustworthiness and broken promises; Ukrainian officials are working with the US government to secure funding for Ukraine in the new budget being worked on over the next 45 days; Speaker McCarthy avoided a government shutdown by relying on Democratic votes to pass a stopgap funding bill, prompting criticism from conservatives within his party who may attempt to remove him from his leadership position; Bipartisan Senate leaders pledged to vote on further funding for Ukraine in the coming weeks; Congress passed a short-term funding bill to prevent a government shutdown, but disagreements over funding for Ukraine and border security remain.
Senator Lindsey Graham expects that Ukraine aid will not be separated from border funding, as Congress works to find a solution after a shutdown bill excluded Ukraine.
President Biden criticized Republicans for bringing the nation close to a government shutdown but commended the passage of a short-term funding bill to prevent it, while urging Congress to pass a separate bill providing more aid to Ukraine.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell faced a significant setback when Republicans in the Senate passed the House GOP's short-term spending bill, which did not include provisions for Ukraine funding, despite McConnell's repeated calls for prioritizing it.
President Joe Biden plans to give a major speech on aid for Ukraine and suggests there may be alternative means to provide support if Congress continues to resist, as Republicans have doubts or openly oppose additional funding for Ukraine's military.
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley criticized Secretary of State Antony Blinken for denying evidence of Iran's direct involvement in the Israel-Hamas conflict, arguing that the recent prisoner exchange with Iran could be funding Hamas' attack on Israel. Haley also expressed concerns about the U.S. border security and the need for America to be more vigilant.
Republicans in the House of Representatives, particularly the hard-right faction influenced by former President Donald Trump's isolationist approach, are increasingly opposed to funding Ukraine, complicating the search for a new House speaker and jeopardizing future aid packages, which could have deadly consequences for Ukraine in its conflict against Russia.
Republican Presidential candidate Nikki Haley criticized Islamic countries for not opening their gates to Palestinians fleeing Gaza and accused them of not wanting Hamas in their own neighborhoods, while also blaming former US President Barack Obama and current President Joe Biden for empowering Iran and enabling Hamas and Hezbollah.
