- The Senate Tuesday passed a $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan
- But it will likely face stiff opposition in the Republican-controlled House
President Joe Biden delivered a blistering attack on his predecessor Donald Trump Tuesday for encouraging Russia to attack allies, as he urged Republicans to back a spending bill that would send $60 billion to Ukraine.
He accused opponents of playing into ‘Putin’s hands’ as he used the backdrop of the State Dining Room to bring the election campaign into the White House.
‘Are you gonna stand with Ukraine or are you going to stand with Putin,’ he said in an impassioned speech. ‘Or are you going to stand with America … or Trump?’
His address came hours after the Senate passed a long-sought $95 billion military aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. It is certain to face stiff opposition in the Republican-controlled House.
Biden used the issue to slam Trump for undermining the core principle of NATO, when the former president said he would he not want to protect allies from a future attack by Russia if they had not met their defense spending commitments
In fact, he told a rally crowd the story of how he apparently said to a fellow world leader that he would encourage Russia to ‘do whatever the hell they want’ to countries not meeting their targets.
The result was unease from NATO members and fury from Biden.
‘No other president in history has ever bowed down to a Russian dictator,’ he said.
‘Let me say this as clearly as I can. I never will. For God’s sake. It’s dumb. It’s shameful, it’s dangerous.’
Biden told his audience that the nation was at an ‘inflection’ point.
‘I can’t imagine any other president walking away,’ he said. For as long as I’m president, if Putin attacks a NATO ally, the United States will defend every inch of NATO territory.’
He said Trump’s comments were ‘unAmerican.’ And he pointed out that the only time NATO has invoked Article 5 of its self-defense clause — an armed attack against one or more of its members shall be considered an attack against all members — was in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks on the U.S.
Biden also used the speech to tell the American public that the security bill would create jobs at home.
‘Places like Arizona where the Patriot missiles are built, and Alabama where the Javelin missiles, and Pennsylvania, Ohio and Texas for artillery shells are made,’ he said.
Republicans, under the influence of Trump, have opposed foreign military aid packages which do not include money to secure the border with Mexico. Yet, Senate Republicans torpedoed a bill that did that last week.
In the meantime, the White House has ramped up its messaging efforts. In a memo released Tuesday, an official tied the security bill to efforts to rein in Iran and its territorial ambitions.
‘A House vote against American national security is a vote to appease and empower the Iranian regime. Period,’ wrote spokesman Andrew Bates.
‘Iran is integral to Putin’s war effort in Ukraine, providing him with weapons and financial support. Right now, Russians are killing Ukrainian civilians with Iranian drones.
‘Iran…
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .