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WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Tuesday called on House Republicans to follow the Senate’s lead and immediately approve funding to Ukraine and not assist the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member state under attack by Russia. strongly condemned President Donald Trump’s threat.
“Even before this bill passed the Senate last night, the stakes for America’s national security were already high,” Biden said in prepared remarks from the White House. “But the stakes have increased in recent days because the former president has sent a dangerous, shocking, and frankly un-American signal to the world.”
Biden cited comments from President Trump, who on Saturday said Russia would “encourage” countries to “do whatever they want” to countries that have not paid their obligations to join the North Atlantic Treaty. He reportedly spoke to the leaders of European countries. organization.
“Can you imagine a former president of the United States saying something like that? The whole world heard it. The worst part is that he meant it,” Biden said. “No other president in our country’s history has ever capitulated to a Russian dictator. Well, let me be as clear as I can, I will never bow down. What can I say? It’s stupid, it’s shameful, it’s dangerous. And it’s un-American.”
The Senate early Tuesday approved a $95 billion foreign aid bill that includes defense funding for Ukraine and Israel by a vote of 70-29, but Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said he would not consider the bill. Stated.
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Kiev said it desperately needed the money to defend itself nearly two years into Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine.
“History is watching. Our failure to support Ukraine at this critical moment will never be forgotten,” Biden said.
Biden called the US’ membership in NATO a “sacred promise,” while Trump, the front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, said NATO was built on “principles of freedom, security, and national sovereignty.” He said he did not understand.
“Because principles have never mattered to Mr. Trump. It’s all about deals,” Biden said. “He does not understand that the divine promises we have given are also useful to us.”
“Let me remind Mr. Trump and everyone who wants to leave NATO,” Biden said. Article 5 of the NATO alliance, which considers an attack on one NATO ally to be an attack on the whole, has only been invoked once before. This was when NATO was established. It was established by the United States after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
“For years, our adversaries have been trying to tear apart our alliance,” Biden said. “The greatest hope of those who wish to harm America is for NATO to collapse. No doubt they all cheered when they heard Donald Trump’s words.”
Biden added: “Please know: I will not walk away. I cannot imagine any other president walking away. As long as I am president, if Putin attacks an ally, the United States will We will protect every inch of (NATO) territory,” he added.
Prime Minister Johnson said the defense spending bill would not be considered in the House of Representatives because it does not include security provisions for the U.S.-Mexico border. Congressional Republicans last week quickly rejected a border bill proposed by a bipartisan group of senators, arguing the measure wasn’t strong enough.
Following his comments on NATO over the weekend, President Trump wrote on his social media website Truth Social that the United States should stop providing foreign aid “with no expectation of anything in return.” This idea was supported by some Republican senators who voted against the foreign aid bill.
Even Sen. Lindsey Graham of the R.S.C. A defense hawk who has been a vocal supporter of the aid said he would only support the aid if it was given as a loan, adding: “President Trump is right to insist on thinking outside the box.” said Graham.
Biden said House Republicans must decide: “Are we going to stand up for freedom or are we going to stand up for terror and tyranny? Are we going to stand up for Ukraine or are we going to stand up for Putin? Are we going to stand up? ” he said. Is it for America or for Trump? ”
“Pass this bill immediately,” Biden said. “It’s about defending decency, defending democracy, and standing up to so-called leaders bent on undermining America’s national security.”
Contributor: Riley Begin
Contact Joey Garrison at X (formerly Twitter, @joeygarrison).
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