Rep. Roy Responds To Editorial Labeling Him An ‘Isolationist’
A slate of bills passed over the weekend with the endorsement of House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and the overwhelming support of House Democrats, but a contingent of conservative Republicans voted against all four pieces of legislation.
The most notable bill included tens of billions of dollars in military aid for Ukraine even as many on the right reject the notion of continuing to funnel U.S. taxpayer funds to the historically corrupt Ukrainian government. Johnson’s support of the measure earned him praise from Democrats and the mainstream media while stoking the ire of fellow Republicans.
The Wall Street Journal editorial board took aim at the 14 lawmakers who rejected each of the bills advanced on Saturday, referring to them collectively as the “GOP Isolationist Caucus” and the “dishonor roll.”
Denouncing the principled stance of the conservative legislators, the board asserted that America “dodged a geopolitical disaster” when the bipartisan foreign aid bill passed.
U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), of the 14 House Republicans targeted in the piece, responded on social media by offering what he believed was a more accurate name for the group: “The GOP anti-open borders, anti-debt, & anti-Hamas caucus.”
“Opinion – The GOP anti-open borders, anti-debt, & anti-Hamas caucus.” Fixed it for you… but you won’t care because you are fine with (unpaid for) war & cheap labor (on the welfare state), Americans be damned. https://t.co/WbGhtdYgPM
— Chip Roy (@chiproytx) April 22, 2024
Roy provided a more in-depth defense of his vote against the foreign aid bill in a separate statement.
“For months, House Republicans — specifically, Speaker Mike Johnson — have been unequivocal that we would not send billions in additional aid to Ukraine without securing our own border first,” he wrote. “This package represents a complete reversal of a position that previously unified the Republican conference, despite the clear and present danger the southern border represents to U.S. national security.”
While support for Israel is considerably more popular on his side of the aisle than Ukrainian aid, Roy similarly explained why he voted against a package to provide assistance to America’s closest ally in the Middle East.
He asserted that “the Israel aid package was paired to gain Democrat support with over $9 billion in humanitarian aid to Gaza and other areas, which will certainly and inevitably find its way into the hands of Hamas — effectively funding both sides of the war and undermining Israel.”