Republican Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance did not take kindly to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s post on social media Thursday that attacked Senate Republicans.
Tusk tweeted that “Republican Senators of America” should be ashamed they had fallen short of Ronald Reagan’s legacy. (Sen. JD Vance Rips Into ‘Ridiculous’ E. Jean Carroll Ruling, Calling It ‘Unfair’ To Sexual Assault Victims)
“Dear Republican Senators of America. Ronald Reagan, who helped millions of us to win back our freedom and independence, must be turning in his grave today. Shame on you,” Tusk tweeted.
Dear Republican Senators of America. Ronald Reagan, who helped millions of us to win back our freedom and independence, must be turning in his grave today. Shame on you.
— Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) February 8, 2024
The comment was widely interpreted as a criticism of those Republican Sens. rejecting a deal to give Ukraine another approximately $60 billion in wartime aid, ABC reported. Ukraine is currently in a years-long war with Russia after it was invaded in 2022.
Sen. Vance clearly took umbrage at Tusk’s words. “The new leader of Poland is arresting political opponents and owes his country’s security to the generosity of mine. He might consider showing some appreciation, or at least toning down his own authoritarian impulses,” he tweeted Friday.
The new leader of Poland is arresting political opponents and owes his country’s security to the generosity of mine.
He might consider showing some appreciation, or at least toning down his own authoritarian impulses. https://t.co/MXhyalPYrK
— J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) February 8, 2024
The attack was a clear reference to Tusk’s policy of reportedly purging his political opponents from media positions. Sen. Vance was steadfastly opposed to what his press office’s Twitter account characterized Jan. 26 as “endless US funding of [the] Ukraine war.” He wanted the United States to leverage its “diplomatic power” toward finding a political settlement of the war, according to a 10 TV Today interview the account posted.
🚨Senator @JDVance1 opposes endless US funding of Ukraine war
“We need to be using America’s diplomatic power to push this war to a close. Writing another $60 billion check is not good for American taxpayers. I don’t think it’s good for the people of Ukraine either.” pic.twitter.com/ibE8DmumMv
— Senator Vance Press Office (@SenVancePress) January 26, 2024
Vance also characterized the border proposal that included Ukrainian funding as having “nothing to do with [U.S.] border security,” according to an interview with The War Room, a press release from his office said.