Biden Takes Swipe At "MAGA Republicans" While Signing 'Vital' Ukraine, Israel Aid Bill

During Wednesday's signing ceremony authorizing the House and Senate-approved 95$ billion emergency foreign aid package, President Biden in his remarks took a swipe at "MAGA Republicans" for causing the holdup. 

"It’s a good day for America, it’s a good day for Europe, and it’s a good day for world peace," Biden said, confirming he signed the legislation. "It’s going to make America safer, it’s going to make the world safer, and it continues America’s leadership in the world and everyone knows it."

"To my desk, it was a difficult path. It should have been easier, and it should have gotten there sooner. But in the end, we did what America always does; we rose to the moment, came together and we got it done," Biden said before going on the offensive with the words: "For months, while MAGA Republicans were blocking aid, Ukraine’s been running out of artillery shells and ammunition. Meanwhile, Putin’s friends are keeping him well supplied." This latter phrase was an apparent reference Iran, North Korea and China.

Biden in a prior phone call pledged to Zelensky that the aid would be coming "quickly" and in follow-up Wednesday the US president told the press that "vital" aid and military equipment would start being transferred to Ukraine "in the next few hours" from the U.S. stockpile.

As many more billions of American taxpayers' money is once again being shipped off to foreign countries, Biden in his remarks admitted there's nothing allotted for the United States' own border protection:

The president on Wednesday also noted the foreign aid package doesn’t include border security, which was part of the initial $111 billion national security package requested by Biden last year.

"It should have been included in this bill, and I’m determined to get it done for the American people," Biden said.

Meanwhile some conservative pundits online have noted that Ukrainian leaders are 'partying' with American public funds, and that it this might only encourage the kind of rampant corruption which has long been well-known in Kiev, with no oversight or accountability. 

Some authors have also pointed out that it was Trump's nod which allowed House Republicans to cave in the first place, however.

As we've detailed before, the now fully authorized package sets aside $61 billion for Ukraine, $15 billion in military aid for Israel, and $9 billion in humanitarian aid for Gaza. There's also $8 billion in security assistance to deter "Chinese aggression" in the Indo-Pacific.

As for Israel funding, Biden said, "We will always make sure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself against Iran and the terrorists it supports." On this point Biden continues to have problems unifying Democrats and especially the Progressive wing of the party, also as campus protests have grown.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has continued weighing in. She's pushing back on Biden's Israel/Gaza policy ironically at the very moment that her party pushed through the massive aid package. According to her fresh statements to an international press outlet:

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., former speaker of the House, called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resign, describing him as an "obstacle" to peace in the Israel-Palestine conflict. 

"We recognize Israel's right to protect itself. We reject the policy and the practice of Netanyahu — terrible. What could be worse than what he has done in response?" Pelosi said in an interview on Monday with a news outlet based in Ireland. "He should resign. He's ultimately responsible."

Pelosi also said: "I don't know whether he's afraid of peace, incapable of peace, or just doesn't want peace. But he has been an obstacle to the two-state solution."

But again, her very party just spearheaded handing over $15 billion for Israel and the Netanyahu government as it continues the military onslaught in Gaza, and as a ground assault is reportedly being readied for the refugee-packed southern city of Rafah.