Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., took a firm stance against Speaker Mike Johnson’s foreign aid package during a Newsmax interview on Thursday, labeling it as an “America last foreign policy bill.”
In his critique on “American Agenda,” Clyde emphasized the need to prioritize securing the American border over policies that extend aid to multiple foreign nations. He expressed concern about diverting resources away from domestic border security efforts to support other countries.
Clyde’s opposition reflects a broader sentiment among several Republican lawmakers who are pushing back against the proposed package, signaling that Johnson may require Democratic support for its passage.
Rep. Clyde (Credits: Spectrum News)
The package includes aid for countries like Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, and support for the Indo-Pacific region. Remarkably it includes the REPO for Ukrainians Act, which allocates funds to Ukraine utilizing assets seized by the Central Bank of the Russian Federation. Additionally, one of the bills addresses border-related issues.
Clyde argued that passing the bill would diminish Congress’s leverage to address border security effectively. He criticized Johnson for deviating from the focus on securing the southern border, expressing disappointment with the current trajectory of Republican priorities.
Andrew Clyde (Credits: Yahoo)
While voicing his disapproval of Johnson’s leadership, Clyde stopped short of endorsing a motion to vacate the speakership, a move announced by Republican Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Thomas Massie of Kentucky.
Clyde emphasized the need for serious consideration but indicated that the threshold for such a drastic action had not been met. Nonetheless, he underscored the importance of demonstrating a commitment to prioritizing American border security, stating that the current bill fails to align with that objective.
