Biden signs foreign aid bill providing crucial military assistance to Ukraine

President Joe Biden Signs Aid Package for Ukraine and TikTok Ban Bill

On Wednesday, President Joe Biden signed an aid package into law that provides crucial military assistance to Ukraine. The aid package, worth $95 billion in total, includes nearly $61 billion in aid to Ukraine, $26 billion for Israel, and $8 billion for the Indo-Pacific. The package also includes a bill that could potentially lead to the banning of TikTok in the United States, giving Chinese parent company ByteDance approximately nine months to sell the platform or face a ban from app stores in the country.

Speaking from the White House after signing the bill, President Biden expressed that it was a "good day for America, a good day for Ukraine, and a good day for world peace." He emphasized that the aid package would make America and the world safer, while also continuing America's leadership role globally. The signing of the aid package marked the culmination of months of negotiations, personal lobbying from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and a split in the House Republican conference that threatens the position of House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Assistance to Ukraine and Opposition from House Conservatives

President Biden acknowledged the difficult path to passing the aid package, mentioning the brutal campaign conducted by Russia against Ukraine. He highlighted Russia's actions, including the killing of tens of thousands of Ukrainians, bombing hospitals, kindergartens, and grain silos. However, some on the left have raised concerns that Israel, which also received significant aid from the package, has been accused of targeting hospitals in Gaza and carrying out a military campaign that resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians, including many children. Some Democrats who voted against the bill cited the aid to Israel as their reason for doing so.

The aid package will have an immediate impact on the battlefield in Ukraine, where soldiers have faced ammunition shortages and losses without US assistance. President Biden announced that military supplies, including air-defense equipment, munitions, and armored vehicles, would be shipped to Ukraine in the next few hours. The Pentagon also announced a $1 billion aid package for Ukraine.

TikTok Ban and Biden's Campaign Strategy

While signing the bill that could potentially ban TikTok in the United States, President Biden's campaign officials stated that they would continue to use the platform to reach voters. This decision reflects the complex nature of TikTok, which is owned by a Chinese company and has raised national security concerns. Despite the risks, TikTok remains highly popular among young Americans, whom Biden relies on for support in his reelection bid. The campaign officials mentioned that they are implementing enhanced security measures to ensure the safety of their content on the platform.

Under the new legislation, TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, has 270 days to sell the platform. Failure to do so would result in significant consequences, including a prohibition on TikTok's presence in US app stores and internet hosting services supporting the app. President Biden's signing of the bill sets the deadline for a sale at January 19, 2025. However, he has the authority to extend the deadline for another 90 days if progress towards a sale is made, potentially giving TikTok up to a year before facing a ban.

Overall, the signing of the aid package for Ukraine and the TikTok ban bill represents significant actions taken by President Biden in the realm of foreign policy and national security.