The FINANCIAL — Based on recent activity, about 49% of Republican Congress members might not approve of Trump’s decision to halt support for Ukraine, reflecting their earlier backing of aid. This estimate comes from their past votes and social media statements, though it’s complex to confirm every member’s stance.
We looked at 271 Republican Congress members (222 in the House, 49 in the Senate). In past votes, 22 senators and 110 representatives supported Ukraine aid, totaling 132 members. This gives us roughly 49% (132 out of 271) who likely oppose Trump’s decision, based on their history and some social media activity.
We analysed the percentage of Republican Congress members who do not approve of Trump’s decision to cease support for Ukraine, based on their social media statements, including X and Facebook, as of March 04, 2025. The analysis incorporates detailed vote histories, social media activity, and specific statements, drawing on high-authority sources such as NPR, POLITICO, and Reuters.
President Donald Trump’s decision on March 4, 2025, to pause all US military aid to Ukraine has sparked significant debate within the Republican Party. This move follows a reported clash with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, as detailed in a Reuters article published on March 1, 2025. The decision has divided Republicans, with some expressing concern over abandoning an ally, while others align with Trump’s “America First” approach. Given the current time, we focus on statements made around this period, particularly on social media platforms like X and Facebook, to gauge opposition.
Total Republican Congress Members
As of the 119th Congress, which began in January 2025, the composition reflects the results of the 2024 elections. For this analysis, we use the most recent data available, assuming continuity from the 118th Congress for estimation purposes:
- House of Representatives: 222 Republicans
- Senate: 49 Republicans
- Total Republican Congress members: 222 + 49 = 271
This number serves as our denominator for calculating the percentage, acknowledging potential changes but using the latest known figures for accuracy.
Identifying Opposition to Trump’s Decision
To determine the number of Republican Congress members not approving of Trump’s decision, we look at their prior support for Ukraine aid and recent social media statements opposing the halt. Key data points include:
- Senate Vote in February 2024: A $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan passed with 22 Republican senators voting in favor, as reported by The Hill. These senators include John Boozman, Shelley Moore Capito, Bill Cassidy, Susan Collins, John Cornyn, Tom Cotton, Kevin Cramer, Mike Crapo, Joni Ernst, Chuck Grassley, Cindy Hyde-Smith, John Kennedy, James Lankford, Mike Lee, Mitch McConnell, Jerry Moran, Lisa Murkowski, Mitt Romney, Dan Sullivan, John Thune, Thom Tillis, and Roger Wicker.
- House Vote in April 2024: A vote on over $60 billion in Ukraine aid saw 110 Republican representatives voting in favor, based on a Business Insider article noting 112 voted against, implying 222 – 112 = 110 voted for it.
Given their prior support, it seems likely that these 132 members (22 senators + 110 representatives) would oppose Trump’s decision to stop aid, especially considering their public stances. However, we need to confirm social media statements specifically opposing the March 2025 decision.
Social Media Statements Opposing Trump’s Decision
Research suggests that some of these members have made statements on X opposing Trump’s decision. Notable examples include:
- Sen. Lisa Murkowski: On March 1, 2025, she posted on X, “This week started with administration officials refusing to acknowledge that Russia started the war in Ukraine. It ends with a tense, shocking conversation in the Oval Office and whispers from the White House that they may try to end all U.S. support for Ukraine. I know foreign policy is not for the faint of heart, but right now, I am sick to my stomach as the administration appears to be walking away from our allies and embracing Putin, a threat to democracy and U.S. values around the world” (POLITICO).
- Rep. Don Bacon: On February 19, 2025, he posted on X, “Putin is the dictator who murdered his opponents. The EU nations have contributed more to Ukraine. Zelensky polls over 50%,” and “Ukraine wants to be part of the West, Putin hates the West. I don’t accept George Orwell’s doublethink,” tackling Trump’s arguments without naming him directly (POLITICO).
- Sen. Roger Wicker: During the Munich Security Conference in February 2025, he criticized Trump’s rhetoric, stating in an interview hosted by Politico, “There are good guys and bad guys in this war, and the Russians are the bad guys. They invaded, contrary to almost every international law, and they should be defeated. And Ukraine is entitled to the promises that the world made to it” (NPR), though it’s not explicitly on social media.
An unexpected detail is that while many supported aid previously, not all have made recent X posts opposing Trump’s decision, making it harder to pin down exact numbers but showing a split within the party. For instance, Sen. Mitt Romney, a known supporter, has historical statements but no specific March 2025 X post found, suggesting potential gaps in social media activity.
Given the complexity, its assumed 132 members who previously supported aid are likely to oppose Trump’s decision, based on their history. The percentage is calculated as follows:
- Total opposing = 132
- Total Republican Congress members = 271
- Percentage = (132 / 271) * 100 ≈ 48.7%, rounded to 49% for simplicity.
This estimate acknowledges the uncertainty, as not all 132 may have made social media statements, but their prior actions suggest opposition.
Most Straightforward Statements
The most straightforward statements opposing Trump’s decision include:
- Sen. Lisa Murkowski: “I am sick to my stomach as the administration appears to be walking away from our allies and embracing Putin, a threat to democracy and U.S. values around the world” (POLITICO).
- Rep. Don Bacon: “Putin is the dictator who murdered his opponents. The EU nations have contributed more to Ukraine. Zelensky polls over 50%,” and “Ukraine wants to be part of the West, Putin hates the West. I don’t accept George Orwell’s doublethink” (POLITICO).
- Sen. Roger Wicker: “There are good guys and bad guys in this war, and the Russians are the bad guys. They invaded, contrary to almost every international law, and they should be defeated. And Ukraine is entitled to the promises that the world made to it” (NPR).
Research suggests that approximately 49% of Republican Congress members do not approve of Trump’s decision to stop supporting Ukraine, based on their prior support for aid and some social media statements. The evidence leans toward figures like Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Rep. Don Bacon, with clear opposition expressed on X, reflecting a significant but not unanimous dissent within the party.
Key Citations
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