Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) took a shot at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on social media before skipping his speech on Capitol Hill, joining other Republicans in an apparent boycott of the wartime leader’s address.
“I’m in DC but I is not going to be attending the speech of the Ukrainian lobbyist,” Massie wrote in a Twitter post on Wednesday, minutes before the Ukrainian leader thanked lawmakers for providing US military aid to Ukraine.
“It will not be charity. Charity can be given freely. The American taxpayers have been conscripted into making welfare payments to this foreign government,” Massie said of the billions of dollars in aid sent to Ukraine because it fights off Russian invaders.
Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Josh Hawley (R-Mos.), and Mike Lee (R-Utah) — who’ve also openly questioned the necessity for more US aid for Ukraine — reportedly weren’t in attendance for Zelensky’s remarks either, according to NBC News reporter Julie Tsirkin.
Commercial
Commercial
Right-wing firebrand Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) didn’t applaud as Zelensky entered the chamber to a rousing standing ovation from the overwhelming majority of lawmakers in attendance, in response to multiple reports.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Tuesday had asked “all Members to be physically present at our session Wednesday night” in anticipation of Zelensky’s address.
Zelensky spoke as lawmakers deliberated on providing an extra $45 billion in Ukraine aid as a part of a $1.7 trillion spending bill, which must pass by Friday to avoid a partial government shutdown.
“The Russian tyranny has lost control over us,” Zelensky declared as he thanked lawmakers for his or her support of Ukraine because it battles Russian aggression.
