Mike Johnson Recalls His 'Intense' White House Meeting On Ukraine Funding: 'I Was On An Island By Myself'

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) recently recounted the intense tone of a White House meeting, where he felt like he was “on an island by [himself].”

What Happened: Johnson, along with other congressional leaders, met with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House on Tuesday. The meeting was centered around funding for Ukraine and plans to avoid a government shutdown, reported The Hill on Thursday.

The meeting was described as “intense” and “productive.” Johnson expressed that the leaders had emphasized the need to avert a government shutdown, and he had reiterated the need for Biden to take executive action to address the border situation.

Hours after the meeting, the congressional leaders negotiated to postpone funding deadlines, preventing a government shutdown. However, a Republican senator, speaking anonymously, suggested that Johnson had been pressured during the meeting.

When asked by Fox News about the reports of leaders ganging up, Johnson said, “Well their reports are pretty accurate. They said that I was on an island by myself, and it was me versus everyone else in the room."

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The leaders also urged Johnson to pass the Senate’s $95 million foreign aid package, including $60 billion for Ukraine. Johnson has signaled that he will not bring the package to the House floor due to the absence of the border security provisions demanded by House GOP members.

Why It Matters: Johnson’s handling of the Ukraine aid issue has been under scrutiny. Former Republican Representative Adam Kinzinger recently questioned Johnson’s political acumen, doubting his ability to secure a deal with Democrats to pass Ukraine aid.

Moreover, Poland's foreign minister, Radosław Sikorski, has been urging Johnson to back Ukraine, emphasizing the significance of U.S. support for Ukraine’s future. The pressure on Johnson to approve the foreign aid package, including the $60 billion for Ukraine, has been mounting.

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