On Wednesday, April 24th, President Joe Biden signed a comprehensive aid package that was reached through bipartisan efforts, providing new assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. The package also includes potential measures to separate or ban TikTok.
The package includes $61 billion in aid to Ukraine, $26 billion in aid to Israel, $1 billion in humanitarian aid to Gaza, and $8 billion for countering China’s military influence.
Additionally, the bill contains a provision that could eventually lead to a ban on TikTok in the US, giving the Chinese parent company, ByteDance, approximately nine months to sell TikTok or face removal from US app stores.
TikTok posted on X on Wednesday stating, “This unconstitutional law is a ban on TikTok, and we will challenge it in court.”
President Biden stated that the comprehensive bill “provides critical support to America’s allies, enabling them to protect themselves from sovereign threats.” He added that weapons will start being sent to Ukraine in the coming hours.
Biden, a Democrat, had been pressuring lawmakers for six months to approve more funding for Ukraine. Former President Trump opposed aid to Ukraine, and some Republican lawmakers also refused to support such aid.
On Tuesday night, the Senate passed the aid package in a 79-18 vote, with 15 Republicans and three Democrats voting against it. Democratic senators who opposed the bill included Senator Bernie Sanders, who recently met with Biden and expressed his opposition to further US funding for Israel’s conflict in Gaza.
Senate Intelligence Committee Republican leader Senator Marco Rubio stated, “For years, we have allowed the Chinese Communist Party to control one of America’s most popular applications, which is dangerous short-sighted behavior.” “A new law will require the Chinese owners to sell the application. This is a good step for America.”
After the Senate vote, Biden issued a statement saying, “Congress has passed my legislation to strengthen our national security and send a message to the world of American leadership: we firmly support democracy and freedom, opposing tyranny and oppression.”
Two US officials told Reuters that the Biden administration is preparing a $1 billion military aid package for Ukraine, the first aid package in the bill. The aid package includes HIMARS rocket launchers, armored vehicles, artillery, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, anti-aircraft missiles, and ammunition for tactical vehicles.
Mike Kofman, a senior researcher at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told The Wall Street Journal that this military aid is not enough to reclaim Ukrainian territory but reduces Russia’s chances of making significant advances.
“This funding buys much-needed time,” he said. “It can stabilize the frontlines for Ukraine in the coming months, allow Russia only small gains this year, and provide the prospect of rebuilding Ukrainian offensive capabilities.”
Republicans who supported the aid package stated that it was not a vote for Biden but a reflection of Republican values.
“Peace comes from strength. This is our tradition,” Alaska Republican Senator Dan Sullivan said in a Senate speech. “For my Republican colleagues and friends in the Senate, our tradition is much more solemn. I will tell you: it has more support from the American people. Peace comes from strength, not from American retreat.”
A new poll showed slightly over 40% of Americans supporting the massive foreign aid package signed into law on Wednesday, highlighting differing opinions on the $950 billion expenditure.
A survey by Monmouth University found that 43% of Americans support the bill, 35% oppose it, showing significant partisan divisions on whether the US should support allies in overseas conflicts.
The majority of Democrats (65%) support the plan, while only 36% of Independents and 30% of Republicans do.