President Biden Addresses Funding for Israel and Ukraine

In an Oval Office address, US President Joe Biden is expected to advocate for continued funding of conflicts in both Israel and Ukraine, as reported by administration officials. The address coincides with the White House’s request for over $100 billion from Congress to provide aid and resources to Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, and the US-Mexico border.

The administration contends that the cost of inaction or disengagement would be considerably higher. Public opinion, however, remains divided. A recent CNN poll showed sympathy for the Israeli people after the October 7 Hamas attacks, but no clear consensus on the appropriate level of American involvement. Around 35% believed the US was providing the right amount of assistance, while 36% were unsure.

The US has a long-standing security assistance agreement with Israel, providing approximately $4 billion annually, whereas support for Ukraine has seen a decline, with 55% of respondents in an August poll opposing additional funding for Ukraine. Three-quarters of Republicans opposed further funding, while 62% of Democrats supported it. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the US government has allocated over $75 billion in funding for Ukraine, with the last supplemental funding request delivered in August.