Many House Democrats waved Ukrainian flags on the floor of the House of Representatives on Saturday as members voted to pass a series of spending packages designating $95 billion in foreign aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan while failing to address President Joe Biden’s border crisis.
A separate vote was taken on each aid proposal with $60 billion allocated for Ukraine, about $17 billion for Israel, $9 billion for humanitarian aid, and $8 billion to support Taiwan. Another bill that could ban TikTok if the company is not divested from Chinese control was also passed.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) faced pushback from some Republicans in the House who wanted him to hold votes on foreign aid spending until more funding for border security measures was secured. After the votes, Johnson said that global threats from Russia, Iran, and China necessitated American leadership and support for the spending.
Video from C-SPAN showed what appeared to be only Democrats waving small Ukraine flags after the bill was passed for Ukraine while they chanted “Ukraine!”
“Ukrainian flags fly as they chant Ukraine! Ukraine! in the chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives,” said Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO). “America’s border isn’t secure but they voted to send tens of billions more to secure Ukraine’s. This is what Ukraine First, America Last looks like.”
Ukrainian flags fly as they chant Ukraine! Ukraine! in the chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives
America’s border isn’t secure but they voted to send tens of billions more to secure Ukraine’s
This is what Ukraine First, America Last looks like. pic.twitter.com/vxVvnWzNOl
— Eric Schmitt (@Eric_Schmitt) April 20, 2024
Fox News reporter Bill Melugin shared text messages that he received from ICE and Border Patrol officials following the passage of the spending package, some of which said: “Unbelievable,” “We’re screwed,” and “So messed up.”
Numerous Republicans slammed their Democrat counterparts for flying Ukrainian flags on the House floor.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) took to a microphone on the House floor and told the Democrats: “Put those damn flags away.”
“It is a disgrace to display any other flag than the American flag in the House Chamber!” she later added on social media.
“When was the last time you saw 200 Democrat politicians proudly waving the American flag?” asked Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN).
When was the last time you saw 200 Democrat politicians proudly waving the American flag? pic.twitter.com/scOTo6ufWQ
— Jim Banks (@RepJimBanks) April 20, 2024
Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL) posted on X: “Democrats are passing out Ukrainian flags on the Floor of the US House right now. They just voted to kill the border security bill and now they are waiving [sic] a foreign flag. AMERICA LAST!”
🚨Democrats are passing out Ukrainian flags on the Floor of the US House right now. They just voted to kill the border security bill and now they are waiving a foreign flag. AMERICA LAST!
— Rep. Mary Miller (@RepMaryMiller) April 20, 2024
Leif Le Mahieu contributed to this report.