White House alleges House Speaker’s aid to Iran in recent Ukraine aid efforts

The White House intensified its criticism of Republican U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, alleging that his failure to bring a national security bill aiding Ukraine to a vote benefits Iran and Russia. The accusation stems from Iran reportedly supplying Russia with potent ballistic missiles, fueling their military collaboration. According to a memo from Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates, President Biden confronts Iran’s complicity in Russia’s actions, contrasting with Speaker Johnson’s perceived inaction, which is deemed advantageous to Putin and the Ayatollah.

Key Biden administration figures travelled to Europe over the weekend to alleviate concerns about the potential cessation of U.S. military assistance to Ukraine. They reassured counterparts from Paris, Berlin, and Kyiv, amidst the conflict’s third year, that Washington remains committed to providing support in some form.

 

While the Biden administration typically refrains from harsh public criticism during negotiations with Republicans on issues like the debt ceiling and spending, it has frequently singled out Johnson. He was recently accused in a Valentine’s Day poem of jeopardizing border security. Despite the Senate’s bipartisan approval of a $95 billion bill aiding Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, Johnson opted not to schedule a vote in the House before sending members on a two-week recess, asserting that the House won’t be pressured by the Senate’s actions.

While the Biden administration typically refrains from harsh public criticism during negotiations with Republicans on issues like the debt ceiling and spending, it has frequently singled out Johnson. He was recently accused in a Valentine’s Day poem of jeopardizing border security. Despite the Senate’s bipartisan approval of a $95 billion bill aiding Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, Johnson opted not to schedule a vote in the House before sending members on a two-week recess, asserting that the House won’t be pressured by the Senate’s actions.

Johnson insists that any international aid package, including military and humanitarian assistance, must incorporate measures addressing U.S.-Mexico border security. This stance follows Republican obstruction of a bill containing significant changes to U.S. immigration policy. Despite bipartisan support in the Senate for the aid bill, Johnson’s reluctance to allow a vote in the House hinders its passage.

 

A memo warns of Putin’s potential to target NATO countries, which the U.S. is obligated to defend, should he succeed in Ukraine. It cautions against House Republicans potentially facilitating Ukraine’s defeat, emphasizing the far greater costs America could face compared to bipartisan investments in Ukraine’s defence capabilities.
Former President Trump, a leading contender for the Republican presidential nomination, has recently threatened to abandon certain European allies in the event of a Russian attack, echoing his longstanding criticism of the NATO alliance.