You know, you probably recall he made a pitch for Ukraine funding earlier this year, but that pitch was not successful. And earlier today, he also spoke with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by phone about this U.S. In Tel Aviv yesterday, the president himself said that he will be asking for a, quote, "unprecedented military package" for Israel. We are expected to hear more details soon, possibly as early as tomorrow. KHALID: I will say that has been in development for weeks. OK, so Biden is seeking more money for all of these different priorities. The president did say yesterday that he has helped broker a deal to get some aid in via the Egypt-Gaza border, but it's not clear, ultimately, when a ground invasion begins, what that devastation could look like.ĬHANG: Exactly. I'm sure you have heard some Republican lawmakers vocally oppose more aid for Ukraine, especially, they say, when they don't know what the end goal in that conflict is.Īnd then when you talk about Israel, on the left flank of Biden's own party, there are humanitarian concerns about Israel's response to the Hamas terrorist attacks and what will become of civilians on the Gaza Strip who have not had access to water, food, medicine. KHALID: As the invasion of Ukraine has continued on for more than a year and a half, polls have shown support amongst Americans is waning, and it is particularly weak amongst GOP voters. I will also say, Ailsa, that this comes, I think, at a real critical time just in terms of what is going on with these conflicts. as being a real leader that needs to step in. You know, Biden sees the rule of law internationally at stake in this moment, and he sees the U.S. It is also directed directly at lawmakers here in Washington about why they should fund these wars overseas. And I will say it's not just a message geared toward the American public. This speech tonight is expected to last just about 15 to 20 minutes. The White House says that he will make the case for why Americans should continue to support democracies that were attacked unprovoked and why that is in America's national interest. This comes as he is seeking billions of dollars of aid for Israel and Ukraine. It signals the gravity of what the president is trying to convey tonight. And I do think it's worth just pausing on that for a moment because of its significance. KHALID: Well, as you said, this is only the second time that Biden will be delivering a prime-time speech from the Oval Office. Hi, Asma.ĬHANG: OK, so lay out the stakes for President Biden tonight. Joining me now to talk about this is NPR White House correspondent Asma Khalid. should spend billions of dollars more overseas. He's been making some big promises to allies overseas, but now he's going to try to convince Americans, including lawmakers in Congress, that the U.S. Eastern, he will sit behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office and deliver a prime-time address to the nation. President Biden is doing something tonight that he has only done one other time during his presidency.
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