Graham Credits Trump For Ukraine Aid

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) made the controversial statement that former President Donald Trump was responsible for the $61 billion Ukraine aid package passed by the House this weekend. The comments came as more than 100 Republicans in the House voted against the bill and pressure increased on House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) from some GOP House members after supporting it.

Graham said in an interview this weekend that the bill was largely thanks to the former president. He told Fox News that the “aid package has a loan component. This would not have passed without Donald Trump.”

“I want to thank the House speaker and Hakeem Jeffries working together in a bipartisan fashion to give weapons to Ukraine to fight a fight that matters to us. President Trump has created a loan component to this package that gives us leverage down the road,” said Graham.

One of the most outspoken critics of the bill and Johnson has been Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA). The representative framed the aid bill as a sham and said that Johnson was a traitor.

Greene introduced a motion to vacate last month to remove Johnson from the speaker’s chair. Since the foreign aid bill gained traction several other members of the House have voiced their support for the motion, including Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY).

The criticism of Johnson was not limited to the House. Sen. Rand Paul (R-TN) sharply criticized Johnson last week, arguing that Democrats now effectively controlled the House.

The question everyone should be asking is what deal did Speaker Johnson make with the Hakeem Jeffries to get the Democrats on the Rules Committee to vote for a Republican rule on the foreign war package which includes $60+ BILLION more to Ukraine?

This never happens.… pic.twitter.com/mB7BBgzDnZ

— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) April 19, 2024

Greene argued similarly last week, writing on social media that the House did not have “a Republican majority anymore, our Republican Speaker is literally controlled by the Democrats and giving them everything they want.”

“Part of making this happen is that Johnson used Schumer’s bill so they had no reason to be against it. Also unprecedented, Republican Speakers don’t use Democrat’s rules and bills. What else did Johnson give away while he’s begging Democrats for votes and protection?” asked Greene.