Democrats on Tuesday tore into former President Donald Trump and House Republicans, saying conservatives’ hostility toward a $95.3 billion national security package with aid for Israel and Ukraine jeopardizes the country.
The bill cleared the Senate earlier in the day with the support from 22 Republican senators — nearly half of the GOP conference — but faces a wall of opposition in the House as Speaker Mike Johnson declares it dead on arrival.
At the White House, President Biden assailed Mr. Trump as “dangerous,” “un-American” and a threat to U.S. security for recounting how, during his presidency, he warned a NATO ally that failing to pay its defense obligations should result in its isolation against foreign attacks.
Mr. Biden also went after Mr. Johnson’s unwillingness to bring the foreign aid bill to a vote.
“The cost for America, and our allies and partners, are going to rise for Republicans in Congress who think they can oppose funding for Ukraine and not be held accountable,” Mr. Biden said. “History is watching.”
On Capitol Hill, House Democrats threatened to file a discharge petition to force a vote on the legislation against Mr. Johnson’s will, a weekslong procedural maneuver that is rarely used but would require the support of only a handful of Republicans.
“We’re going to utilize every available legislative tool, and what is clear is that there are more than 300 bipartisan votes in the House of Representatives to pass the national security bill today,” said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. “It’s not too much to ask in America’s national security that we get an up-or-down vote, that the House of Representatives actually work its will as opposed to allowing Donald Trump to work his will.”
The legislation could muster the bipartisan support it needs to clear the House, presenting a quandary for Mr. Johnson.
If the Louisiana Republican refuses a vote, he could face rebellion from centrist members who may be willing to grind the chamber’s work on other matters to a halt or even side with Democrats on a discharge petition.
But voluntarily holding a vote and passing more aid to Ukraine could send him packing through a motion to vacate the speaker’s chair from any one Republican. Many conservatives are opposed to more aid for Ukraine.
“I certainly oppose [a discharge petition],” Mr. Johnson told reporters. “I hope that it would not be considered. The House has to work its will on this. There’s a deliberative process, we’re engaged in that, and we’ll see how it goes. As I’ve said many times, national security begins with our own border.”
House Freedom Caucus Chair Bob Good of Virginia, the far-right group that helped oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy last year, advised Mr. Johnson to pass standalone Israel aid and focus on beefing up southern border security in federal annual budget negotiations over the coming weeks.
Senate Republicans previously rejected a version of the aid package that included a bipartisan border deal after fierce rebukes from Mr. Johnson and Mr. Trump that the provisions were too weak to properly address illegal immigration.
Mr. Biden accused the speaker of bowing to Mr. Trump, who has lamented the bill. The president urged Mr. Johnson not to be intimidated by Trump loyalists, whom Mr. Biden branded as “most extreme” members of the House.
“This is a critical act for the House to move. It needs to move. This bill provides urgent funding for Ukraine to keep defending itself against Putin’s vicious, vicious onslaught,” he said.
But Mr. Biden saved his strongest remarks for the man likely to be his rematch opponent in November. At a campaign rally last weekend, Mr. Trump said that while president, he had expressed to a defense-deficient ally the hope that Russia would do “whatever the hell they want” to NATO members who don’t pay up.
“Donald Trump looks at this as if it’s a burden,” Mr. Biden said. “When he looks at NATO, he doesn’t see the alliance that protects America and the world. He sees a protection racket. You don’t understand that NATO is built on the fundamental principles of freedom, security and national sovereignty because for Trump, principles never matter.”
Meanwhile, outspoken conservative critics of Ukraine funding, including Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio and Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, say the aid bill could trap Mr. Trump in another impeachment over Ukraine. The funding would extend into next year, presenting potential repercussions if a President Trump were to try and cut off the money.
“The supplemental represents an attempt by the foreign policy blob/deep state to stop President Trump from pursuing his desired policy, and if he does so anyways, to provide grounds to impeach him and undermine his administration,” Mr. Vance wrote in a memo to Senate Republicans.
• Alex Miller contributed to this report.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.
• Ramsey Touchberry can be reached at rtouchberry@washingtontimes.com.
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