Trump piles pressure on Republicans to kill aid deal for Ukraine

WASHINGTON — It is less than nine months until the presidential election but Donald Trump is already wielding extraordinary influence as he seeks to bend US foreign policy to his ambitions of a return to the White House.

Trump has been a private citizen since leaving office in 2021 but is running for reelection and urging his party to reject a bill tying the toughest border security measures in a generation to $60 billion in Ukraine aid.

"Don't be STUPID!!! We need a separate Border and Immigration Bill. It should not be tied to foreign aid in any way, shape, or form!" Trump, who looks almost certain to be facing US President Joe Biden again in November, posted on social media.

On Sunday, senators unveiled a bipartisan $118 billion package of immigration restrictions that Biden has committed to signing into law. It is tied to a foreign aid package that includes $60 billion for Ukraine and $14 billion for Israel.

Biden's administration said on Monday he would veto a stand-alone bill backed by House of Representatives Republicans that would provide aid to Israel, as it pushes for the broader measure.

"We don't have enough agents. We don't have enough folks. We don't have enough judges. You don't have enough folks here. We need help. Why won't they give me the help?" Biden said on Monday when asked about the bill's prospects.

Trump has an iron grip on Republicans leading the House of Representatives, and has called repeatedly for the party to kill the legislation and deny Biden and his Democrats a political victory ahead of November's election. "This Bill is a great gift to the Democrats, and a Death Wish for The Republican Party," Trump said on Monday on his Truth Social website.

Seeking debate

Trump, who has refused to debate any of his rivals for the Republican nomination, on Monday said he wanted to debate Biden immediately.

"I'd like to debate him now because we should debate. We should debate for the good of the country," Trump said on a radio show hosted by conservative commentator Dan Bongino.

When asked by reporters during a trip to Las Vegas on Monday about Trump calling for a debate, Biden, a Democrat, said: "If I were him, I would want to debate me too. He's got nothing to do."

Trump and Biden debated twice during the 2020 race. A third debate was canceled after Trump tested positive for COVID-19 and declined to participate in a virtual event. Traditionally, there are three presidential debates.

The critical test for the bill will be its first procedural vote, expected on Wednesday, which will require support from 60 senators in a 100-member chamber that is almost evenly divided between the two parties.

Even if it gets over that hurdle, House Speaker Mike Johnson, who talks to Trump regularly, said the deal would be "dead on arrival" if it reaches the Republican-controlled lower chamber.

Agencies via Xinhua