On Sunday, House Speaker Mike Johnson said he will work hard to get help for Israel during the war. He will also try to get support for a national security plan that gives money to Ukraine and other allies in Asia.
Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, is facing a lot of pressure from other Republicans as he tries to balance the party’s differing opinions on supporting Kyiv against Moscow’s invasion. The Republican leader has not taken action on a $95 billion package that would help US allies and provide aid to civilians in Ukraine and Gaza. It would also give money to replace weapons given to Taiwan.
Iran attacked Israel on Sunday, putting more pressure on Johnson. But it also gave Johnson a chance to show how important it is to approve the funding.
Johnson spoke to Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures” and said that he and the Republicans know it is important to support Israel. He said he will work to approve the aid this week.
“He said they are putting together the details of that package right now. ” “We’re checking the choices and extra problems. ”
Senate leader Chuck Schumer said President Joe Biden talked on the phone Sunday with the top Republicans and Democrats in Congress, including Johnson. The New York Democrat said that all the leaders agreed to help Israel and Ukraine, and hopefully we can figure it out and get it done next week.
“It’s very important for Ukraine, Israel, and the Western countries’ future,” Schumer said.
The White House said Biden talked about how important it is for the House of Representatives to quickly pass the national security supplemental.
Johnson has told other House Republicans that he plans to put together the help for Israel, Ukraine, and Asian allies and get it approved by the House this week. This was stated by a Republican representative. Mike Turner, from Ohio, is the leader of the House Intelligence Committee, and he was on NBC’s “Meet the Press”.
The person speaking wants to pass a law that would give some money to Kyiv as loans, allow the US to use Russian bank money that is frozen, and make other changes to policy. Johnson wants the Biden administration to allow Liquefied Natural Gas exports to be approved again. He also wants changes to be made at the US border with Mexico.
Currently, the only plan that most people in Congress agree on is the one the Senate passed. It includes about $60 billion for Ukraine and $14 billion for Israel.
John Kirby, who works for national security at the White House, asked the speaker to bring that package to a vote in the House as soon as possible.
Kirby said on NBC that we already know what’s happening in Ukraine and don’t need any reminders. “But last night really showed how much danger Israel is in because of where it is located. ”
Johnson is talking to the White House and Donald Trump about getting more money for Ukraine. Trump is likely to be the Republican presidential nominee.
Johnson went to Florida to meet Trump at his club because he was worried about losing his job. Trump said he likes and supports Johnson and they have a good relationship.
“Johnson said that he and I completely agree on these important agenda items. ” “When discussing help for Ukraine, he has introduced the idea of loaning them items instead of giving them aid, which is an important concept and I think many people agree with it. ”
However, Trump’s “America First” agenda has encouraged many Republicans to support a more isolationist approach. Support for Ukraine has been decreasing for the past two years since the war started. This was once a popular cause, but now it is one of Johnson’s biggest challenges.
When he comes back to Washington on Monday, Johnson will also have to deal with a group of conservatives who are already upset with how he has been leading the House. They are not happy with how much money the government is spending or with a tool the US government uses for surveillance.
Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia who supports conservative ideas, wants Johnson to be removed from his position. She left the Capitol on Friday and told reporters that more people were starting to support her cause. On Sunday, Johnson wanted to give aid, but Greene said it was wrong to make aid for Israel depend on aid for Ukraine.
No other Republicans have said they want to remove Johnson from his position like Greene did, but more and more very conservative people are openly criticizing Johnson and not following his leadership.
At the same time, older GOP politicians who want to help Ukraine are getting impatient because it’s taking a long time to bring the aid to a vote in the House. Kyiv’s soldiers don’t have enough bullets and Russia is gaining confidence as it tries to take over more land in a planned attack. A big missile and drone attack destroyed a big power plant in Ukraine last week. Other power plants were also damaged.
“The same thing that happened in Israel last night happens in Ukraine every night,” said the Congressman. Michael McCaul, a Republican leader of the group that oversees foreign affairs, was on CBS’s “Face the Nation. ”
The differences in opinions have made Johnson work hard to create a plan that both Republicans and Democrats like. Democrats have asked the speaker many times to bring the $95 billion package passed by the Senate in February for a vote.
Progressive Democrats don’t want to send help to Israel because they’re worried it will help their mission.
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Mike Johnson to advocate for help to Israel and Ukraine
