Republican 2024 president contender Sen. Tim Scott said it was “unbelievable” that President Biden focused more on Ukraine than Israel during his prime-time address Thursday evening.
The South Carolina senator took exception to what he said was Mr. Biden‘s attempt to liken the murderous rampage by Hamas militants against Israel earlier this month to Ukraine‘s plight as it fights off an invading Russian army.
“Our ally, Israel, was bombed by a terrorist organization and tonight’s speech focused more on Ukraine than Israel,” the South Carolina Republican said on Fox News’ “Hannity” Thursday evening. “That’s unbelievable.”
Mr. Scott added that the president should have been more explicit in his warning to Iran, a longtime supporter of Hamas, that “consequences are coming if you bomb Israel.”
“The weakness of this president has caused chaos and conflict around the world,” he said. “So we need a new commander in chief so that what we say, we mean, and that means there are consequences that follow. If we are not loyal to our allies, no one believes we’ll be lethal to our adversaries.”
Mr. Biden’s address, intended in part to promote a $100 billion funding request covering both conflicts, focused on the similar ordeals facing Ukraine and Israel. He made parallels between Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying both want to “completely annihilate a neighboring democracy.”
He also said that Iran has played a role in Russia in Ukraine and Hamas, along with other terrorist groups.
Fellow Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley also had criticism for Mr. Biden after his address, saying the president’s own misguided foreign policy moves in the past had helped produce the present crisis.
“The shame of it all is that we wouldn’t be in this terrible position if Joe Biden hadn’t been so weak in Afghanistan, so slow in Ukraine, so pandering to Iran, and so absent from the border,” the former South Carolina governor said on social media. “The world is on fire, and America needs strong new leadership to deal with it.”
The White House confirmed Friday it is sending the $100 billion Israel–Ukraine aid package to Congress, a package that includes money for domestic issues such as border security.
“We will not be lectured by those who refuse to act,” Shalanda D. Young, the White House budget director, said. “Congress needs to take action to provide sufficient resources for the border.”
