Before becoming Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson of Louisiana faced fierce opposition from the extreme right in his party regarding his decision to support a bill allocating over $60 billion in aid to Ukraine. His wife recalled that he spent a sleepless night in anticipation of a political coup that could terminate his speakership. Despite the personal risks, Johnson chose to proceed with the legislation, as he wanted to be on the right side of history. Initially, Johnson was adamant about providing support to Ukraine; however, his stance has shifted in line with President Trump’s stance, who is now advocating for reduced support for Ukraine and warmer relations with Russia.
In this updated article:
- Less than a year ago, Johnson faced opposition from the right-wing of his party when he introduced a bill to send over $60 billion in aid to Ukraine, which led to him having a sleepless night before the decision.
- His wife remembered the intense pressure he was under, thinking their time in office was about to end, as a result of this decision.
- Johnson ultimately decided to support the aid bill despite the anticipated backlash and pushback from within his party.
- Johnson had secretive conversations with top Biden administration officials to determine how to proceed with the aid to Ukraine, being cautious due to the political sensitivity of the issue.
- Today, Johnson’s stance on Ukraine has shifted, aligning with President Trump, who is advocating for reduced support for Ukraine and a friendlier approach towards Russia.
- The article discusses the transformation in Johnson’s position given the recent political developments, including a confrontation between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
- The story outlines Johnson’s secret conversations with officials, his encounters with staunch opponents within his party like Marjorie Taylor Greene, and the time invested in convincing them of his perspective, even at the cost of significant personal political capital.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/01/us/politics/johnson-ukraine-trump.html
