Rand Paul on White House's $10B Ukraine aid ask: Expanding debt 'threatens' US national security
The Biden admin requested at least $10 billion in new money to provide aid to Ukraine
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., weighed in on the White House's request to Congress for $10 billion in aid to Ukraine, saying he's not opposed to selling weapons to Ukraine, but the U.S. should be careful about giving weapons away and expanding on national debt, which would threaten national security.
On Thursday, the Biden administration requested at least $10 billion in new money to provide aid to Ukraine amid Russian President Vladimir Putin's war against the nation, according to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Paul responded to the White House's ask, saying he's "not opposed" to selling weapons to assist Ukraine, but he's "opposed" to giving away weapons and expanding upon the United States' trillions of dollars in debt, which would "threaten our own national security."
Senator Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky, speaks during a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
"I’m not opposed to selling defensive weapons to Ukraine. I am opposed to giving away weapons or money to buy weapons as I believe that we should not expand our $30 trillion debt that threatens our own national security," Paul told Fox News Digital.
The Biden administration's request comes as Ukraine faces increasingly heavy bombings and missile attacks from Russia. Meanwhile, Russian warships are headed toward Odesa for what U.S. officials anticipate will be an amphibious assault beginning as soon as Thursday.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"As part of the agreement lawmakers are working to finalize ahead of the March 11th deadline, we’re also urging Congress to include supplemental funding for two urgent and immediate needs: supporting Ukraine, and continuing our ongoing COVID response efforts," OMB Acting Director Shalanda Young said Thursday.
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 28: U.S President Joe Biden gives remarks at a Black History Month celebration event in the East Room of the White House on February 28, 2022 in Washington, DC. The event was attended by members of President Biden’s Cabinet, the Congressional Black Caucus, state and local elected officials, and Civil Rights and Faith based leaders. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
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OMB also asked Congress for $22.5 billion in coronavirus-related aid. That money will go toward treatments, vaccines and virus tests.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Rand Paul on Hannity. (Fox News)
Fox News' Tyler Olsen contributed to this report.