In recent months, the number of House Republicans opposing legislation providing aid for Ukraine has grown from 70 members in July to 93 members in September. This growing skepticism towards Ukraine aid is fueled by concerns over corruption, the substantial amount of money already sent to the country ($113 billion), and the potential risk of sparking a global war. It seems that this skeptical view is becoming the party’s position, with newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson rejecting a spending proposal from the Biden administration that would have tied aid for Israel to funding for Ukraine, Taiwan, and the U.S. border.
Lee and a group of Republican senators immediately came out against Biden’s proposal, instead introducing a separate bill that focused solely on providing aid to Israel while excluding Ukraine funding. House Republicans followed suit and successfully passed their own version of the bill with bipartisan support.
Lee explains that GOP representatives are increasingly wary of providing additional military support to Ukraine due to concerns over their own re-elections and the declining popularity of Ukraine aid among Republican voters. In addition, some Republicans are shifting away from past interventionist policies and adopting a more restrained approach.
Lee has consistently voted against additional aid for Ukraine since the spring of 2022, citing a lack of oversight. However, he firmly rejects the label of isolationist and prefers to be called a “constitutional realist.” According to Lee, the U.S. government should only engage in serious military operations if Congress passes an official declaration of war and if there is a clear path to victory and a plan for the post-victory world.
Lee’s approach to foreign policy has garnered him consistent support from Utah’s conservative Republican voters. According to a recent poll conducted by the Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics, 78% of “very conservative” Utahns approve of Lee’s performance, while 57% of all Utah Republicans approve. Among all Utahns, 48% approve of Lee’s performance, while 40% disapprove. The poll also found that only 21% of Utah Democrats approve of Lee’s performance, while 74% disapprove.
During times of American engagement in foreign conflicts, like the current situations in Ukraine and Israel, the foreign policy views of politicians are increasingly scrutinized by voters. Jason Perry, the director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics, explains that although foreign policy may not be a disqualifying factor for many Republican voters, it is a topic that they closely watch.
Another recent poll conducted by the Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics shows that support for increased humanitarian and military funding to Ukraine, without U.S. troops, remains high among Utahns. However, this support has declined since March 2022, with only 40% of Utahns now supporting military aid to Ukraine.
According to Perry, Lee recognizes the differences between the aid proposed for Ukraine and the aid proposed for other conflicts, particularly Israel’s war against Hamas. Lee supports the House bill providing aid to Israel while opposing Biden’s larger aid package that includes funding for both Israel and Ukraine. Lee emphasizes that Israel’s aid is much smaller than Ukraine’s and that the U.S. has a longstanding history of funding Israel’s military operations.
Lee points out that there is also a significant difference in the goals of the two conflicts. Israel aims for a decisive victory within weeks or months, while Ukraine has not identified a clear path to victory and expects the conflict to last for years. This fundamental difference in the conflicts makes Lee cautious about providing aid to Ukraine.
While Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senator Mitt Romney support a combined package of aid for Israel and Ukraine, Lee believes that a majority of Senate Republicans would not vote for such a package. He remains skeptical that increased transparency or accountability regarding Ukraine’s strategy or the use of funds would alleviate his concerns.
Overall, Lee’s cautious approach to foreign policy, particularly regarding Ukraine, continues to resonate with conservative voters in Utah. The shifting views within the Republican Party reflect the ongoing debate over America’s role in foreign wars.
