The White House pushed back against criticism from Republicans who are alleging Democrats effectively sponsored an illegal campaign event in Pennsylvania earlier this week.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to a Pennsylvania ammunition factory on Sunday was rebuked by Republicans, who are asking for information to determine whether it was “politically motivated” and paid for by U.S. taxpayers in violation of federal law.
“This was business as usual for the Ukrainians to request during wartime,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. “We would encourage the House Republicans to drop this. This is a political stunt.”
House Republicans are demanding an investigation into Zelensky’s visit to the swing state, questioning whether it was intended to boost Vice President Kamala Harris, the Washington Examiner was first to report.
The Ukrainian leader has said a second Donald Trump administration could lead to “global conflict” and described Trump’s running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), as “too radical.”
Furthermore, only Democratic officials toured the factory with Zelensky, prompting a reporter to ask if the White House made any efforts to make the event bipartisan.
“This came from the Ukrainians, not us,” Jean-Pierre said. “The whole world knows this is someone [Russian President Vladimir] Putin wants dead.”
She also said Zelensky met with Republicans in Utah two months ago and that no complaints emerged from that visit.
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With less than six weeks to go before Election Day, Republicans are alleging the intent was clearly for Zelensky to boost Harris’s campaign, which they argue would constitute foreign election interference.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is demanding that Zelensky fire the Ukrainian ambassador to the United States for planning the Pennsylvania stop, calling it “a partisan campaign event designed to help Democrats.”
