Some outspoken conservatives accused Zelensky of participating in a “money laundering scam” by seeking U.S. aid.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s address to Congress was met with a largely enthusiastic response, but a vocal contingent of MAGA Republicans were less than pleased with the speech.
Zelensky addressed Congress on Wednesday night after meeting with President Joe Biden during his first trip abroad since Russian forces invaded Ukraine on February 24. The speech was made as Congress considers a $1.7 trillion spending bill that would include $45 billion in additional funds for Ukraine, which some Republicans oppose.
During the speech, the Ukrainian president told lawmakers that sending his country aid during the war was “not charity,” arguing that it was instead “an investment in the global security of democracy that we handle in the most responsible way.” It was one of many moments in which Zelensky received a standing ovation from nearly all of those in attendance.
Republican Representatives Matt Gaetz of Florida and Lauren Boebert of Colorado, who have both demanded an end to aid for Ukraine and audits of previous funding, were among the small number of attendees who refused to applaud or stand for Zelensky during the speech.
Others, including a number of outspoken supporters of former President Donald Trump and his MAGA movement, later expressed their dissatisfaction with Zelensky’s speech on social media.
“The reception of Zelensky’s speech tonight — mass adulation by our ‘leaders’ — seals the deal,” tweeted Scott Stephenson, a self-described “proud Trump Republican” who previously ran for Congress. “Our republic is dead. We The People must work together to start again. Our founding fathers had the right model. Time for a reboot.”
“It was very democratic Zelenskyy to wear military fatigues for his speech,” actor and former GOP congressional candidate Nicholas Tutora tweeted.
