Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and former President Donald Trump are facing criticism from Republican senators who hope to send a combined amount of over $75 billion to fund Israel and Ukraine, in exchange for $13.6 billion in funding for U.S. border security. They allege Trump is intentionally sabotaging the bill for political gain against President Joe Biden.
Trump stated his opposition to the border deal, saying on Truth Social:
I do not think we should do a Border Deal, at all, unless we get EVERYTHING needed to shut down the INVASION of Millions & Millions of people, many from parts unknown, into our once great, but soon to be great again, Country! Also, I have no doubt that our wonderful Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, will only make a deal that is PERFECT ON THE BORDER. Remember, without Strong Borders and Honest Elections, we don’t have a Country!!!
Senator Mitt Romney (R-Utah) criticized Trump for not supporting the border deal, saying, “The fact that he would communicate to Republican senators and congresspeople that he doesn’t want us to solve the border problem because he wants to blame Biden for it is really appalling.”
Senator Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said that if the Senate doesn’t pass the bill, Ukraine will lose its war with Russia. “If we don’t act, Ukraine will fall.… And everyday Americans will feel the impact, not years but months away.”
The $106 billion bill includes $61.4 billion for Ukraine, $14.3 billion for Israel, and $13.6 billion for the U.S. border. By attaching U.S. border security funding to foreign entanglements — funding Israel’s war in Gaza and Ukraine’s war with Russia — both Republican and Democratic politicians have used the border security crisis as leverage to send money to foreign governments.
