Biden's political math: Adding Israel and border funding to get Ukraine aid

President Joe Biden on Thursday delivered a primetime address in which he gave the American people a pitch on the importance of continued aid for both Ukraine and Israel and confirmed he would ask Congress to approve funding for both.

"American leadership is what holds the world together," Biden declared. "Hamas and [Russian President Vladimir] Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common. They both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy."

With Republicans divided over further support for Kyiv and Democrats skeptical of the administration's support for Jerusalem, the combined package faces tough odds in Congress. Biden himself did not provide exact figures, but Axios reported Thursday that the funding request would include $60 billion for Ukraine, $10 billion for Israel, $8 billion for border security, and an unspecified amount for Taiwan.

The inclusion of all three items together appears to be an attempt to both incentivize and pressure lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to back the package. Former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell suggested that Congress ought to secure border funding in the deal if the administration remained intent on linking the matters.

"I probably would bundle three issues. Israel, Ukraine, and the southern border," he said on the "Just the News, No Noise" television show. "The fact is that we're in a, a multi front war against radical Islam and Marxist communists. And, and there is collaboration... So, if they're gonna bundle, I think they ought to make sure that we actually include resources that will tighten up our border, because right now, it is a gateway for those who would do destruction to our country here domestically."

The combined package puts Republicans in a bit of bind. The conference has soured on further aid to Kyiv, due in part to concerns over corruption in Ukraine as well as concerns that the conflict appears poised to go on indefinitely. Public support more broadly has declined throughout the conflict and an August CNN poll revealed that 55% of Americans opposed additional aid. Conversely, support for Israel and securing the border remain high. Should GOP lawmakers vote against the package over Ukraine aid, they would have to vote down funding for Israel and the border, potentially handing the White House a talking point.

Compounding Republican reservations, however, is the ongoing budget battle. Many lawmakers have cited the nation's poor financial health as justification for refusing to fund foreign wars and the substantive spending package would likely throw a wrench into Republican efforts to reduce spending. Frustrations with former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's spending negotiations were a key motivator in the recent conservative ouster of the lower chamber leader.

In the wake of Biden's address, some Republicans expressed skepticism of Biden's efforts to link the issues.

"What Biden is doing is disgusting. He's using dead children in Israel to sell his disastrous Ukraine policy to skeptical Americans," Utah GOP Sen. Mike Lee posted on X. "They are not the same countries, they are not the same problems, and this effort to use Israel for political cover is offensive."

On the Democratic side, support for Ukraine aid is popular and its inclusion in the package presents that party with a similar dilemma. Voting down border funding and Israel aid would also mean shutting down aid to Kyiv. Support for Israel is particularly divisive within the Democratic Party and several lawmakers, most notably those of the far-left "Squad," have vocally criticized Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip.

Michigan Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib, who is of Palestinian origin, on Wednesday participated in a high-profile demonstration calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Palestine. During the event, demonstrators entered the Cannon Office Building on Capitol Hill and staged a sit-in, resulting in arrests.

At present, however, the House of Representatives is without a speaker and unable to approve any budget requests at all.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.