Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, criticized the House of Representatives for passing a $60.8 billion aid bill for Ukraine as the country continues to fight against the Russian invasion launched by Vladimir Putin in February 2022. Despite months of urging from U.S. lawmakers, the bill was passed in a 311-112 vote, with 210 Democrats and 101 Republicans in favor and 112 Republicans against. Greene has been a vocal critic of providing additional aid to Ukraine and introduced a motion to vacate House Speaker Mike Johnson last month for his handling of foreign funding and border security.
After the Ukraine aid bill passed, Greene posted a video on X showing her colleagues in the House waving Ukrainian flags, which she condemned as prioritizing Ukraine over the American people. Reports indicated that she, along with other Republican representatives, booed and yelled at Democrats for waving the flags in the House chamber. Greene expressed her frustration over the prioritization of foreign wars while domestic issues remained unaddressed, calling it a “sellout of America.” While Greene hinted at potentially calling for a vote to oust Johnson, so far only Representative Thomas Massie and Paul Gosar have joined her effort.
Despite the resistance from Republicans like Greene, Johnson has defended his decisions and vowed not to resign as House speaker. He emphasized the challenges of achieving a two-thirds majority for the border bill, which he tied to any potential aid package for Ukraine. In addition to the Ukraine aid bill, the House also passed $8.1 billion to support the Indo-Pacific region against Chinese aggression and $26.4 billion for Israel’s conflict with Hamas. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has pledged to expedite the passage of any supplemental package sent by the House, with President Joe Biden showing support for foreign aid legislation.
Overall, the passage of foreign aid bills for Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific region, and Israel has sparked controversy and debate among lawmakers, particularly regarding the prioritization of international aid over domestic issues. Greene and other Republican representatives have criticized the House for focusing on foreign wars while neglecting border security and other domestic concerns. Despite the tensions within the GOP, efforts to revoke Speaker Johnson’s position have not gained widespread support, with Johnson remaining steadfast in his leadership role. The ongoing discussions over foreign aid underscore the complexities and challenges of balancing international relations with domestic priorities in the realm of U.S. politics.
