Mace: Americans ‘have every right to be angry’ over border bill ‘fumble’

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) said Americans have “every right to be angry” about a border security bill not being a part of foreign aid legislation making its way through Congress this week.

“I believe the American people have every right to be pretty angry with Congress as a whole, and both sides tonight,” Mace said during a Friday evening appearance on NewsNation’s “On Balance with Leland Vittert”.

On Friday, the House advanced legislation to send aid to Ukraine alongside other U.S. allies. The lower chamber went in favor of the foreign aid rule in a 316-94 vote, allowing for debate on bills that put together military aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, alongside humanitarian aid for Gaza and other war zones.

“I see this as a huge fumble for the party, for the conference,” Mace said. “Especially this year, when there’s so much going on at the border.”

The House is expected to go ahead and vote on House Speaker Mike Johnson’s four-part plan for aid to Ukraine and other U.S. allies Saturday. 

Retired Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman said the U.S. passing new aid for Ukraine in its fight against Russia would give the Eastern European country a “big boost of morale” Friday.

“I think the U.S. coming through with aid is going to be critical,” Vindman said in an interview with MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell Friday. “That is gonna be a big boost of morale, and also depress Russia’s morale.”

If Congress is able to pass new Ukraine aid, it will end a long back-and-forth on the subject in the legislative branch that has found itself creating even intra-party strife.

“Finally, we hear [House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.)] over the past couple days, issue a very powerful statement that he’s going to support…the Ukraine aid,” Vindman said in his MSNBC interview. “That is critically important, because we don’t wanna see our troops fighting on the ground in Ukraine.’

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