Reality Bites

The Cold Political Truth Of The Ukraine War

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For the last three years, Joe Biden, European heads of government, and the foreign policy establishments of both American parties, have pledged support for Ukraine in its battle to repel Russia’s invasion and remain a sovereign nation. Leaders used Churchillian phrases like “shoulder to shoulder,” “steadfast support,” and “whatever it takes.”

As Ukraine bravely defended its homeland and hardened trench lines formed, every few months, America sent tens of billions of dollars in arms and logistical support, for a total through September 2024 of $174.2 billion, per the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. During this time, inflation raged here at home, decimating the finances of tens of millions of people, and the economy, though statistically strong, did not feel very good for many in the working class.

As Donald Trump tries to negotiate the end to the war in Ukraine, a political reality is becoming apparent to Europe and the Acela Corridor: Americans are tired of paying to solve other people’s problems. 80 years after we rebuilt Europe and Japan and subsequently policed the world, willing to give blood and, more common recently treasure in the name of western freedom and peace, Americans see a more urgent need to address long simmering domestic problems. Donald Trump’s understanding of this going back to 2015 has been one of the pillars of his working-class coalition. And it’s not just MAGA that feels this way.

As Kamala Harris struggled to motivate the black community in the closing weeks of the campaign, she did a tele-town hall in Detroit, hosted by popular black podcaster Charlemagne Tha God. One of the questions came from a black woman, who asked, “why are we -- and I say we because my tax dollars is sending the money, why are we sending money to other countries when we desperately need it in our own country for homeless, housing, resources, for whatever. That is my determining factor if I vote for Kamala or not.” This voter represented tens of millions of Democrats, let alone MAGA, frustrated at being told their local problems cannot be addressed due to lack of funding.

It is true that Ukraine, absent American support, is staring at a very dangerous future. But to many Americans, while a sad reality, they view this as Europe’s problem and not ours. Great Britain, France, Germany, and other EU countries have bountiful social services largely because these countries have spent very little on their own defense since 1945, while we have borne the vast majority of the burden. It is time, tens of millions of Americans understandably say, for Europe to assume responsibility for their own neighborhood.

This is cold and shocking for some. But for many of these people, their kids did not fight in Iraq or Afghanistan; and their neighborhoods have issues, but they are “first world problems,” such as too much WOKE in their kids’ private school, not what to do about the lead in the water, lack of low-income housing, or falling apart public schools.

The political reality of America today is that, unless a direct threat to our national security, Americans would prefer focus and resources be spent solving problems at home, not abroad. Hopefully Donald Trump brings peace that enables Ukraine to remain a sovereign nation for decades to come. But it will not be lead and guaranteed by America - reality bites.