President Joe Biden has signed into law a hard-fought bill that provides billions of dollars in new U.S. aid to Ukraine for its war with Russia. The legislation, which passed with bipartisan support, represents a significant victory for the president as he seeks re-election and ends months of wrangling with Republicans in Congress.
“It gives vital support to America’s partners so they can defend themselves from threats to their sovereignty,” Biden said after signing the bill. “Congress has passed my legislation to strengthen our national security and send a message to the world about the power of American leadership: We stand resolutely for democracy and freedom, and against tyranny and oppression.”
Biden also signed a separate bill tied to the legislation that bans TikTok in the United States if its owner, the Chinese tech firm ByteDance, fails to divest the popular short video app over the next nine months to a year. The ban is intended to address concerns that TikTok poses a national security risk due to its ties to the Chinese government.
TikTok CEO Chew Shou Zi said on Wednesday that the company expects to win a legal challenge to block the legislation that would ban the app used by 170 million Americans. “Rest assured – we aren’t going anywhere,” he said in a video posted moments after Biden signed the bill.
The passage of the Ukraine aid and TikTok ban bills marks a significant turning point in U.S. foreign policy. The Ukraine aid package represents a major escalation of U.S. support for Ukraine’s defense against Russia, while the TikTok ban reflects growing concerns about the influence of Chinese technology companies in the United States.
The legislation signing comes as Biden faces a tough re-election battle against former President Donald Trump. Biden has made strengthening U.S. alliances and supporting Ukraine’s defense against Russia key foreign policy goals. The passage of the Ukraine aid and TikTok ban bills represents a significant victory for Biden and his administration.
The legislation signing also highlights the growing bipartisanship in Congress on foreign policy issues. The Ukraine aid package passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, and the TikTok ban bill passed with a significant majority of Republicans voting in favor. This bipartisanship suggests that there is a growing consensus in Congress on the need to strengthen U.S. alliances and confront the challenges posed by China.
