Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) received an “F” grade from Republicans for Ukraine, a group backed by arch neoconservative Bill Kristol.
Bill Kristol speaking at an event at the Art Museum at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.
Johnson, a fourth-term conservative and formerly the House Republican Conference vice chair, became the Speaker of the House after Republicans unanimously backed his ascendancy to the Speaker’s chair.
Johnson was backed by Republicans from all wings of the House Republican Conference; however, that does not mean he has not earned conservative accolades.
For instance, Republicans for Ukraine gave Johnson an “F” grade, signaling “very poor” support for Ukraine’s protracted conflict with the nuclear-armed Russia.
The group noted that Johnson:
- Voted in favor of The Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022, which allowed the lending/lease of American defense materiel to Ukraine.
- Voted against the 2022 Ukraine Supplemental Appropriation
- Voted in favor of Amendment 21 to H.R. 2670, the National Defense Authorization Act, which would have stricken $300 million of assistance for Ukraine.
- Voted in favor of Amendment 22 to H.R. 2670, the National Defense Authorization Act, which would have prohibited all security assistance for Ukraine.
- Voted in favor of Amendment 25 to H.R. 2670, the National Defense Authorization Act, which would have removed the extension of lend-lease authority to Ukraine.
- Voted against H.R. 5692: Ukraine Security Assistance and Oversight Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2023.
- Made an anti-Ukraine statement or statements.
‘We should not be sending another $40 billion abroad when our own border is in chaos, American mothers are struggling to find baby formula, gas prices are at record highs, and American families are struggling to make ends meet, without sufficient oversight over where the money will go,” Johnson said in a relevant statement about his lack of support for Ukraine.
WATCH: Mike Johnson Receives Gavel and Is Sworn in as Speaker of the House
U.S. House of RepresentativesJohnson wrote in February, “American taxpayers have sent over $100 billion in aid to Ukraine in the last year. They deserve to know if the Ukrainian government is being entirely forthcoming and transparent about the use of this massive sum of taxpayer resources.”
American taxpayers have sent over $100 billion in aid to Ukraine in the last year.
— Rep. Mike Johnson (@RepMikeJohnson) February 28, 2023
They deserve to know if the Ukrainian government is being entirely forthcoming and transparent about the use of this massive sum of taxpayer resources. pic.twitter.com/pf0ZpjzU2f
Sean Moran is a policy reporter for Breitbart News. Follow him on Twitter @SeanMoran3.