Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to a U.S. military ammunition factory in Scranton, Pennsylvania, on Sunday has been criticized by some Republicans, including Speaker Mike Johnson, as partisan.
“This tour was clearly a partisan campaign event aimed at supporting the Democratic Party…” Johnson wrote in a letter to Zelensky.
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White House and Pentagon officials told Fox News that the visit was at Ukraine's request to thank American workers who helped Ukraine expand production of munitions for Russia's defense. Ta.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends a joint press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday, September 20, 2024 in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Christoph Soeder, pool photo via AP)
All of the elected officials who attended the event were Democrats, as it is standard procedure to invite the congressmen and senators who represent the districts being visited.
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In this case, all of the elected officials happened to be Democrats due to so-called “geographical jurisdiction,” a defense official told Fox News.
“This tour was clearly a partisan campaign event aimed at supporting the Democratic Party…” U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson wrote in a letter to Zelensky. (Getty Images)
Mr. Zelenskiy has met only with Republicans on past trips, for the same reason that they also happen to be elected officials in the districts he visits.
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Zelensky visited Utah in July, meeting with Republican Gov. Spencer Cox and meeting with Utah's all-Republican congressional delegation.
President Zelensky visited Utah in July, meeting with Republican Governor Spencer Cox and meeting with Utah's all-Republican congressional delegation. (Utah Governor's Office)
Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a statement: “If President Zelensky comes to Mississippi, Republican leaders will accompany him. Because he's a Republican official.”
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White House Press Secretary KJP told Jackie Heinrich in a briefing today that the U.S. military helped arrange the visit.
Jackie Heinrich asked KJP about this in a WH briefing this afternoon.
Karine Jean-Pierre: “This is what the Ukrainians asked for. They did this in Utah a few months ago with a Republican governor and Republican elected officials in attendance. I haven't even heard of any investigation.''When we went to Republican states, we didn't ask for them. ”
