Why 22 Senate Republicans defied Trump and voted for aid to Ukraine

Early Tuesday morning, 22 Senate Republicans defied Donald Trump and voted with Democrats to pass a $95 billion foreign aid package — most if for Ukraine and Israel.

The former president and other Senate Republicans had tried to kill the measure that President Biden has called critical.

He earlier had stopped a version that included border security provisions, wanting to deny Biden a win on immigration and claiming he could get do better if he regains the White House.

Here's why some of the Republicans who went against Trump said they voted as they did, although few, if any, made much mention of Trump.

Several GOP senators noted the supplemental aid package includes $26 billion to help replenish U.S. military stockpiles depleted by ammunition and other equipment and supplies sent to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, according to a bill summary.

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said in a statement, «The national security supplemental we passed today equips our country with the resources to restore American deterrence and resolve amid rising threats and President Biden's weakness.»

Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., also said the bill would revitalize the U.S. defense industry.

«This bill also will help rebuild our defense industrial base, which has significantly diminished in recent years,» he said. «Restoring our military readiness — from artillery to semiconductors — is critical not to promoting war but to deterring conflict.»

Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, also emphasized U.S. national security concerns.

«My primary obligation as a U.S. senator is protecting America. This national defense legislation counters the Biden