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President Joe Biden accused Donald Trump of scuttling a bipartisan bill that included billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine along with tougher immigration policies, after Republicans signaled their opposition to the deal under pressure from the former president.
The $118 billion legislation agreed to by Senate Democratic and Republican negotiators on Sunday could be the Biden administration’s last chance to secure new military support for Ukraine in its defense against the Russian invasion, along with others national security objectives, including aid to Israel and Taiwan. .
It also marks a rare compromise on efforts to curb immigration across the Mexican border, including restrictions on asylum, which has been a rallying cry for Republicans and a political liability for Democrats during Biden’s presidency.
But the bipartisan agreement has been swept away by Trump in recent weeks – and the front-runner for this year’s Republican White House nomination moved to torpedo the latest breakthrough once again this week.
“He would rather use this problem as a weapon than actually solve it,” Biden said of his predecessor Tuesday from the White House State Dining Room.
“For the last 24 hours, he has done nothing but address Republicans in the House and Senate and threaten them and try to intimidate them into voting against this proposal. And it seems like they are giving in,” the president added.
Failure to pass the bill would mean “fewer tools” for Ukraine to fight the Russian invasion and that is “just what.” [Vladimir] Putin wants it,” Biden added, referring to the Russian president. “History watches. Failure to support Ukraine at this critical time will never be forgotten.”
Trump had criticized the deal on social media on Monday, calling it a “great gift” for Democrats and a “death wish” for Republicans. “It takes the HORRIBLE job Democrats have done on immigration and the border, absolves them and puts it all squarely on the shoulders of Republicans. Don’t be STUPID!!!,” he wrote.
Trump’s opposition to the compromise bill led Republicans who control the majority in the House of Representatives to call the legislation a “waste of time” and “dead on arrival” in the lower chamber.
Instead of considering the bipartisan package, the House voted on a bill to only fund aid to Israel and to decide whether to impeach Alejandro Mayorkas, the secretary of Homeland Security, for his handling of immigration. Both votes failed.
Many Senate Republicans, who negotiated the immigration compromise and are more sympathetic to the legislation’s national security goals, appear to have been influenced by Trump to oppose the bill, capitulating to the wishes of their likely presidential nominee.
John Barrasso of Wyoming, the third-highest ranking Republican senator, said Tuesday: “Joe Biden will never implement any new laws and will refuse to use the tools he already has today to end this crisis. I cannot vote for this bill. Americans will turn to the next election to end the border crisis.”
An initial procedural vote is expected in the Senate on Wednesday that would require the support of 60 of the chamber’s 100 senators.
At least 12 of the 49 Republican senators in total would have to support the bill for it to move forward, as some Democrats are also expected to vote against it because they consider the border measures too draconian. Tuesday afternoon it seemed like an insurmountable obstacle.
Speaking from the White House, Biden said he hoped Senate Republicans would “reconsider” their opposition. “It’s time for Republicans in Congress to show some courage, to show some backbone, to make the American people understand that you work for them, not for anyone else,” she said.
Ukraine is heavily dependent on Washington for military aid, given the United States’ large stockpile of advanced weapons and ammunition and its large defense industry. Ammunition shortages have already hampered Ukrainian efforts to repel the Russian advance.
A failure by Congress to extend military support to Ukraine would not mean a complete end to U.S. arms supplies to Ukraine, with about $13 billion worth of weapons still to be delivered. But this year Kiev was counting on another $8.5 billion in financial support from the United States, of the $41 billion it needs in external financing.
The bill’s likely defeat would represent another sign of the growing influence of isolationist extremists on Capitol Hill as Trump extends his hold over the party.
It marks the latest blow to traditional Republican foreign policy hawks and political pragmatists who have supported the bipartisan shift, including Mitch McConnell, the party’s leader in the Senate. His future as a leader may now be in jeopardy.
McConnell on Tuesday appealed to Republicans to support the package, but also suggested that the Senate eliminate the controversial border measures and approve only national security provisions, including aid to Ukraine and Israel.
But while that might please the White House and Democrats, it’s unclear how Trump or House Republicans would respond. Asked about that scenario, Biden responded: “I won’t admit it now. We need everything. The rest of the world is watching us, and they really are.”