Trump Advocates for Foreign Aid from the US to be Structured as Loans
TL/DR –
The Senate is scheduled to vote on a $95.3 billion foreign aid package, aiming to provide aid for Israel and Ukraine. Former President Donald Trump has opposed the package, stating that the US should stop providing foreign aid unless it is structured as a loan. The bill, which includes $60 billion to support Ukraine, $14.1 billion for Israel, and $9.2 billion in humanitarian assistance, among other provisions, may face further opposition from Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, who has previously opposed foreign aid.
CNN —
Before the Senate’s forthcoming vote on a $95.3 billion foreign aid bill to support Israel and Ukraine, ex-President Trump has urged the US to halt foreign aid unless structured as a loan.
Trump reiterated that America shouldn’t give money without assurance of payback, in a post on Truth Social.
His comments followed sharp criticism of a $118 billion bipartisan border deal and foreign aid package that Senate Republicans blocked — a surprising rejection of restrictive border legislation partly crafted by conservative Senator James Lankford.
The comments suggest the upcoming foreign aid package, set for procedural votes Sunday, could face similar opposition.
Trump applauded the failure of the previous bipartisan deal at a rally, emphasizing its significance for conservatives. He criticized Biden’s open borders bill while speaking to his supporters in South Carolina.
The rejected deal would’ve provided critical aid to US allies, including financial support for Ukraine against Russia, security assistance for Israel, and humanitarian assistance for civilians in Gaza, West Bank, and Ukraine.
Republicans demanded border security in the deal, but caved under Trump’s pressure as he made the US southern border a campaign issue in his presidential run. This sparked outrage among Democrats.
The Senate is working on passing the $95.3 billion foreign aid package, which gained support on Thursday with a vote of 67 to 32.
However, opposition from Trump and Republican Senator Rand Paul may slow the bill’s progress. Paul, a known adversary of foreign aid, may use Senate rules to stall it.
Without a unanimous agreement to expedite the process, the Senate could be in session over the weekend and into next week for the final vote.
“We should stay here as long as required,” Paul told CNN, indicating a lengthy debate over the importance of the US border versus Ukraine’s.
If the Senate passes the bill, it will move to the House for consideration, but Speaker Mike Johnson’s decision to hold a vote is uncertain due to Republican opposition to further aid for Ukraine.
The new foreign aid package proposes billions for Ukraine and Israel’s security, and humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza, West Bank, and Ukraine.
The bill includes $60 billion to help Ukraine combat Russia, $14.1 billion for Israel’s security, $9.2 billion in humanitarian aid, and $4.8 billion for Indo-Pacific partners, according to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
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