Hawley says ‘astronomical’ $40B Ukraine aid bill is evidence of Biden’s ‘misplaced priorities’ and hurts US

EXCLUSIVE: Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., is warning that a measure by Congress to give Ukraine $40 billion additional funding in its war against Russia is evidence of the Biden administration’s “misplaced priorities” and will be detrimental to the security of the U.S.

The Senate advanced a $40 billion Ukraine aid bill on Monday evening, despite opposition from a handful of Republican senators, in a vote tallying 81-11.

Hawley told Fox News Digital Tuesday during an exclusive interview that the reason why he voted “no” to advance the aid package is due to the fact that it will harm the United States’ standing domestically as well as on the world stage and doesn’t represent a “nationalist” foreign policy view.

“My biggest concern is that I don’t think this represents a nationalist foreign policy. I mean, it seems to me to be part of this unfocused globalism that unfortunately many in my party have embraced in the last couple of decades,” Hawley said.

“The amounts we’re talking about are astronomical. I think $40 billion would be about three times as much as Europe has contributed combined, all of the European states, for a war that’s happening on their continent,” the senator stated, saying he’s worried it will continue allowing Europe to “freeload.” 

“I’m concerned that it shortchanges priorities here at home. We could build a border wall twice over with this amount of money,” Hawley continued, stating that the U.S. needs to be more focused on the threat that illegal immigration poses, rather than fueling billions into a war and adding to our national debt.

Last week, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., blocked a measure that would have…