Trump praises 'honorable' Portman for corroborating Ukraine aid story

In defending his determination to withhold Ukrainian assist on Wednesday, President Trump delivered to mild a behind-the-scenes disagreement with a member of his personal celebration: Republican Sen. Rob Portman.

But despite their rift over that cash, Portman has largely corroborated Trump’s rationalization for why he withheld cash from the European nation, regardless that it had been authorised by Congress. Whether or not Portman agrees with Trump that the president’s telephone name with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky was “good” is another matter.

The Ohio lawmaker repeatedly asked the Trump administration why roughly $400 million in help to Ukraine was delayed. While some reporting suggests Trump had stopped the help prematurely of urgent Zelensky to get his authorities to probe former Vice President Joe Biden, Portman stated the president persistently advised him it was because he was irritated with European allies not paying their truthful share.

“I used to be given a consistent purpose, including from the president himself: That the Europeans weren’t doing enough. And he stated lastly, ‘OK, I’ll do it,’” Portman explained to reporters last week. “I feel he was utilizing that as leverage to get the Germans and different Europeans to do extra.”

On Wednesday, Trump complimented Portman as “honorable” for backing up his rationalization. The president recounted talking with Portman about their rift earlier this yr.

“He referred to as up: ‘Please let the cash go.’ I stated ‘Rob, I hate being the country that is all the time giving money,’” Trump stated. “He stated, ‘you recognize what? Nevertheless it's necessary … I gave the money as a result of Rob Portman and others referred to as me and requested. However I do not wish to be the sucker and European nations are helped excess of we're.”

Trump's remarks got here from questioning about what exactly he needed Zelensky to do in the telephone call, a question that was not answered.

Portman stated he didn't disagree with Trump’s foremost level of world leaders sharing equitable funds to Ukraine but that it was “not truthful to Zelensky” to withhold help provided that he had just taken office.

But Portman hasn’t completely defended Trump’s defense of his telephone name with Zelensky, despite the fact that the Republican senator strongly disagrees with House Democrats’ impeachment inquiry. Trump has stated his call with Zelensky was “good” but Portman stated it will have been preferable to have left Biden out of it.

“Wouldn't it have been higher that he not introduced up Biden’s identify? Sure,” Portman stated final week. “However the rush to judgment by the opposite physique I feel is totally unwarranted.”

Portman is amongst a large group of bipartisan senators who've urged administrations in each parties to counteract Russian affect by serving to Ukraine. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) additionally stated lately he’d leaned on the Protection secretary and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to ship the aid and “was not given an evidence” for why it didn’t move.

Trump allies say his annoyance with providing assist to allies is consistent when he feels america is overpaying. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) stated that in a dialogue with Trump final week, the president “needed to stop cost to South Korea until they paid more.”

“Trump’s all the time tried to get individuals to pay extra,” Graham informed reporters last week. The Trump administration “needed to discover out if the new [Ukraine] administration is dependable … if you’re suggesting that Trump withheld the aid to get the Ukrainian government to do something? I don’t purchase it.

European nations have offered Ukraine with billions in monetary help, though the U.S. has led the best way on army assist, according to Politifact.

Oma Seddiq contributed to this report.

Article initially revealed on POLITICO Magazine

Src: Trump praises 'honorable' Portman for corroborating Ukraine aid story
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