RFK Jr. Slams ‘Disaster’ Senate Border Bill, Takes Issue With Ukraine Funds

 Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced on Monday that he opposes a bipartisan Senate bill coupling border security reforms with funds for Ukraine, Israel, and other foreign causes.

In a post to X featuring a photo of President Joe Biden with his hand on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s shoulder, Kennedy took particular issue with the $118 billion package‘s $60 billion in wartime aid to Ukraine nearly two years after Russia launched an invasion.

“The new Senate Bill is a disaster. We’ve already spent $113 [billion] on this proxy war in Ukraine,” Kennedy said in a post to X. “Requesting an additional $60 [billion] when we have so many problems at home including inflation and the border crisis is reckless. No more money for Ukraine until we have a secure border, a booming economy and pay off some of our $34 [trillion] of debt.”

In another post, Kennedy said the “Senate just struck a $118 billion deal including another $60 billion in military ‘aid’ to Ukraine. In reality, the aid goes to US defense contractors and the offshore bank accounts of corrupt Ukrainian officials. Can you think of a better use for $60 billion? I can.”

Some polls show Kennedy getting double-digit support in a match-up against Biden and former President Donald Trump, which comes as surveys find voters are not enthusiastic about a 2020 rematch.

During a recent discussion on CNN about ballot access, Kennedy said he was open to joining with the Libertarian Party. In response to one of Kennedy’s posts to X, the party criticized the Senate bill by voicing opposition not just to Ukraine aid, but support for Israel as well.

 

“Ukraine is not the only foreign country funded by this bill… No more money for Ukraine OR ISRAEL. Sending the hard-earned money stolen from Americans abroad when we have so many problems at home is reckless. No. More. Foreign. Aid. Period,” the Libertarian Party’s account said.

While Trump discouraged GOP lawmakers from supporting the Senate bill, noting its timing ahead of the 2024 election and calling for a border measure separate from foreign aid, his Republican rival Nikki Haley told Fox Business that she liked some of the asylum changes in the legislation, but disliked other aspects, adding that Congress should stay in Washington and make adjustments until they figure out a viable compromise.

Biden, whose administration helped the Senate negotiators devise the contents of the compromise bill, urged lawmakers to embrace the legislation.

“We’ve reached an agreement on a bipartisan deal that includes the toughest and fairest set of border reforms in decades. And it includes support for Ukraine and Israel and provides humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people,” Biden said in a post to X. “I urge Congress to pass this bill immediately.”