Mike Johnson and Trump should abandon the deceptive “loan for Ukraine” discussion

If Republicans are dead-set on sending billions more taxpayer dollars to Ukraine, prolonging a devastating war that is certain to end with Russia securing at least some land, they can at least do us all the courtesy of being honest. Instead, they’re trying to con everyone by selling the overseas welfare as a “loan,” as if the tiny nation, suffering an estimated half-trillion in destruction, will ever be in a position to reimburse the suckers who agree to such a scam.

As of late last month, the World Bank calculated that the cost of “reconstruction and recovery” for Ukraine is $411 billion. That grows by the second. Americans have already sent north of $113 billion, no strings attached, to Washington’s favorite foreign charity case, and the White House is urging that we send another $60 billion— at least.

It’s offensive enough that both Democrats and Republicans insist that throwing fistfuls of cash at a conflict 5,000 miles away is exponentially more important than shutting down the hordes of destitute migrants shoving their way across the southern border. But upon realizing just how unpopular their preference for Ukraine is, Republicans in Washington are trying to deceive their own voters by suggesting the money isn’t free because it will be a loan.

Don’t you see, you dummies?! Loans must be paid back in full! It’s fine! Shut up!

“Even President Trump has talked about the loan concept where we set up— we’re not just giving foreign aid,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said Sunday on Fox News, stammering through what he knew was B.S. “We’re setting it up in a relationship where they can provide it back to us when the time is right.”

He’s at least not lying about Trump also making the pitch. “It can be loaned on extraordinarily good terms,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform in February, “like no interest and an unlimited life…” (“When the time is right” is sometimes referred to as “unlimited life.”)

South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham has proposed a “no-interest, waivable” loan.

A “loan” that comes with no interest and no repayment deadline, and can ultimately be forgiven for any reason at all is, by definition, not a loan. It’s free money. And taxpayers have been taken for that ride countless times already.

At the very end of his second term in office, Bill Clinton forced U.S. taxpayers to swallow half a billion dollars in foreign debt total. Before that, George Bush Sr. had taxpayers swallow several billions in debt held by Poland and Egypt. (Delightfully for him, Clinton probably soaked up some of that back up in foreign-sponsored Clinton Foundation “speeches.”)

Congressional leaders get all wet and messy at the very sight of Volodymyr Zelensky(yyy) in his camo costume. Why would anyone trust them to collect repayment from him? They would never. And we don’t even know what’s going to happen to him tomorrow, let alone “when the time is right” for him to get his first bill.

So, Mike Johnson, Donald Trump, Lindsey Graham, and all the rest: If you’re so devoted to pushing more money to Ukraine, just say so. Don’t insult us all by calling it a loan when it’s not.