House Democrats celebrated the passage of a $60 billion aid package for Ukraine — a bill passed with the support of “conservative” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and a minority of House Republicans known as the Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act by waving Ukrainian flags in the U.S. Capitol.
Footage on X, formerly Twitter, showed Democrats waving Ukrainian flags and chanting in support of Ukraine after the vote. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) demanded on the House floor “Put those damn flags away!”
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) expressed her frustration outside the Capitol. “When we had members of Congress waving the Ukrainian flag on the United States House of Representatives floor while we’re doing nothing to secure our border. I think every American in this country should be furious,” she said.
Johnson who had previously pledged to prioritize domestic issues like border security faced backlash for his role in advancing the bill. “I’ve done here what I believe to be the right thing,” he said in a statement that did little to appease his party members.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) a co-sponsor of Greene’s motion to remove Johnson as speaker told reporters “This is the U.S. House of Representatives under the direction of speaker Mike Johnson. Democrats are celebrating his total capitulation with no victory for securing our border.”
The aid package to Ukraine which includes stipulations for defense and repayment agreements has ignited a debate over American fiscal priorities and foreign policy. Critics argue that it represents a significant oversight in addressing domestic concerns, particularly border security a key promise of the GOP majority.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) among others have voiced their opposition on X. Mace wrote “The only flag that should be flying on the floor of the U.S. House is the AMERICAN FLAG!”
Paul posted “Ukrainian flags fly in the chamber of the UNITED STATES House of Representatives as they vote to send more of your hard-earned money to a corrupt foreign regime. And just like that they shout “UKRAINE! UKRAINE!” while happily working to secure Ukraine’s borders not ours.”
