Mike Johnson Lashes Out Over Weapons Factory Tour Snub, Cries Election Interference To Ukraine President — Wants Ambassador Fired

The recent U.S. visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sparked outrage among GOP figures, leading to an investigation by a House panel. The visit, which included a tour of a munitions factory in Pennsylvania, has been criticized by Republicans who believe it was a politically motivated campaign stop for Vice President Harris.

What Happened: According to The Hill, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has demanded the dismissal of Ukraine’s U.S. ambassador, alleging election interference. House Oversight and Accountability Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) initiated the investigation into Zelensky’s trip, which saw him accompanied by Pennsylvania Democrats.

Johnson and Comer argue that the visit was politically motivated, with Johnson stating in a letter to Zelensky, “The tour was clearly a partisan campaign event designed to help Democrats and is clearly election interference.” He also demanded the immediate dismissal of Ukraine's Ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova.

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Democrats have dismissed these accusations, with Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) stating that the Republicans were turning their back on an important U.S. ally. Zelensky’s visit was described by Pennsylvania as a gesture of gratitude to the workers playing a vital role in Ukraine’s defense.

Why It Matters: Before his U.S. visit, Zelensky was set to discuss his "victory plan" to end the war with Russia with key American leaders. During his visit, he urged Western leaders to take decisive action to compel Russia into ending the war.

In an interview with The New Yorker, Zelensky criticized Sen. J.D. Vance’s (R-Ohio.) views on Ukraine, calling him “too radical”. Donald Trump has asserted that Zelensky prefers the Democrats to win the upcoming 2024 U.S. election.

Image via Shutterstock

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This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Shivdeep Dhaliwal