After the GOP struggle, Biden approves a package banning TikTok and providing help to Ukraine

As he runs for reelection, President Joe Biden achieved a rare bipartisan triumph on Wednesday by signing a hard-fought measure into law that would deliver billions of dollars in additional U.S. help to Ukraine for its conflict with Russia. This puts an end to months of back-and-forth with Republicans in Congress.

“It gives vital support to America’s partners so they can defend themselves from threats to their sovereignty,” Biden stated.

In addition to $26 billion for Israel and $61 billion for Ukraine, the plan also contains $8 billion to offset China’s military power and $1 billion in humanitarian relief for Gaza.

The law had an instantaneous effect. According to Biden, the first $1 billion in weaponry shipments for Ukraine have been approved, and the arms will begin to flow in a matter of hours.

Vehicles, Stinger air defense munitions, extra ammo for high-mobility artillery rocket systems, 155mm artillery ammunition, TOW and Javelin anti-tank munitions, and other weaponry that may be used on the battlefield right away are all included in the first aid package.

For the last six months, Biden, a Democrat running against Republican former President Donald Trump in November, has been pressuring legislators to authorize additional financing for Ukraine, which has been battling a full-scale Russian invasion for more than two years. Trump opposed the help to Ukraine, and a few Republicans in Congress declined to support it, doubting Ukraine’s ability to win.

Biden expressed gratitude to House Speaker Mike Johnson, the leading Republican in Washington, for ending the impasse over the bill and promised to return soon to discuss border security, a priority for Republicans.

He declared, “This serves as a reminder of what America is capable of when we unite despite our differences.”

Referencing Trump’s catchphrase “Make America Great Again,” Biden accused “MAGA Republicans” who supported him of squandering months to obstruct the aid.

According to him, the legislation’s passing sends a clear message to Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose forces have been advancing into Ukraine.

“He’s failed again. American stands with our friends. … We bow to no one, no one, certainly not Vladimir Putin,” stated Putin.

Along with the assistance law, Biden also signed a bill that forbids TikTok from being used in the US if its Chinese owner, ByteDance, does not sell the well-known short video app within the next nine months to a year.

The social networking site is especially well-liked by young Americans who lean left, a demographic that was essential to Biden’s success in November.

The Republican-controlled House of Representatives quickly veered from its original route on Saturday and adopted four legislation that contained cash for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and other US allies in the Indo-Pacific region, ending Congress’ impasse over the Ukraine assistance package.

In February, President Biden and House Speaker Johnson had lengthy discussions over Ukraine. The president has since urged Republicans to support the package and chastised them for not doing so. Following his pivot on aid, Johnson is being called out by some right-leaning Republicans. Earlier this month, Johnson met with Trump in Florida, and the former president praised Johnson for “doing a really good job.”

Tuesday night, the US Senate followed the House in enacting a comprehensive plan that gives $61 billion in help to the nation. The country has seen losses in the fight, which its supporters attribute on the US government’s delay in providing further funds.

European affairs analyst Heather Conley stated that the impact of the delay on Kiev’s military operations had a mitigating effect on the triumph for Biden and the US allies.

Conley, head of the US German Marshall Fund, stated, “This is a strong message of American leadership at a time of enormous instability, but the delay created cracks in that credibility.”

After Trump’s turbulent four years in office, Biden has claimed that he contributed to the restoration of US reputation internationally by fortifying NATO and presenting a unified front against Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In support of his “America First” ideology, Trump has threatened to leave NATO partners on their own if they do not raise defense budgets.

Republicans who supported the assistance package argued that their support was a reflection of their party’s principles rather than a vote for Biden.