News
In Apparent Break from GOP, Trump Vetoes Defense Bill
In an apparent break from the Republican Party, President Donald Trump vetoes the $740 billion defense bill for 2021. The National Defense Authorization Act hurdled both the House and the Senate with veto-proof margins. According to Senate rules, a vetoed bill can still become law if two-thirds of the members voting in the House and the Senate each agree to pass it over the President's objection.
RELATED: Trump: ‘Go Big or Go Home’ As Senate Will Vote On Limited Stimulus Bill
The 4,517-page National Defense Authorization Act funds America’s national security efforts.
For over 60 years, it received approvals without so much as any opposition. This year’s edition passed via the usual strong bipartisan support featuring overwhelming, veto-proof majorities. So, the fact that Trump vetoes the bill stood out as an aberration.
Act Fails in Many Ways
In a statement to Congress, Trump decried the bill’s contents. “Unfortunately, the Act fails to include critical national security measures, includes provisions that fail to respect our veterans and our military’s history, and contradicts efforts by my administration to put America first in our national security and foreign policy actions,” he declared.
Trump also alluded to the bill as “a gift to China and Russia.” He earlier tweeted on December 17 that “I will Veto the Defense Bill, which will make China very unhappy. They love it. Must have Section 230 termination, protect our National Monuments and allow for removal of the military from far away, and very unappreciative, lands. Thank you!” Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act refers to liability protections for social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. The measures protect these companies from lawsuits from damages caused by content posted on their sites.
Democrats Up in Arms
As expected, Democrats are up in arms over the President’s refusal to sign the Defense bill into law. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) tweeted his disgust. He wrote, “Donald Trump just vetoed a pay raise for our troops so he can defend dead Confederate traitors.” Trump earlier voiced opposition to measures renaming bases named after Confederate leaders. Schumer vowed to overrule the veto through Congressional votes. “Democrats will vote to override it,” he promised.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Ca), also expressed her dismay in the veto. She issued a statement that said “Disturbingly, Trump is using his final hours in the office to sow chaos. She added that the veto takes away from “servicemembers a long-overdue pay raise and hazard duty pay; our families paid family leaves, child care, housing, and health protection; and our veterans the benefits that they need and deserve.” She also promised that by “next week, December 28, the House will take up the veto override with bipartisan support.”.
Republicans Also Expressed Disappointment
Earlier on the Senate floor, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell remained unfazed. He said his intention “is to ensure the Senate continues fulfilling our obligation to the men and women of our armed forces. I hope the president will not veto this bill.” Since it did happen, McConnel made preparations for Trump's vetoes immediately. He worked out a deal with Schumer for a December 29 session to vote on the bill. “In the event that President Trump does elect to veto this bipartisan bill, it appears the House may choose to return after the holidays to set up a vote to consider the veto,” he added. “In the event that the president has vetoed the bill, and the House has voted to override the veto, the Senate would have the opportunity to process a veto override at that time.”
Meantime, House Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney (Wy) also defended the NDAA. She said it already included strong provisions to counter both Russia and China. She hoped that Congress “must ensure this bill becomes law.” Cheney added that “failing to pass the NDAA will have dire consequences for our national security.”
Opposition to Certain Passages
Also, Trump opposes the renaming of military bases named after Confederate leaders. As early as June, Trump already made his position known about the matter. In a series of tweets during that period, Trump said “It has been suggested that we should rename as many as 10 of our Legendary Military Bases, such as Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Fort Hood in Texas, Fort Benning in Georgia, etc. These Monumental and very Powerful Bases have become part of a Great American Heritage, and history of Winning, Victory, and Freedom,” Trump said.
“The United States of America trained and deployed our HEROES on these Hallowed Grounds, and won two World Wars. Therefore, my Administration will not even consider the renaming of these Magnificent and Fabled Military Installations. Our history as the Greatest Nation in the World will not be tampered with. Respect our Military!,” he emphasized.
Get The Troops Home
In addition, Trump said that the NDAA works against a major administration foreign policy goal: getting US troops home. He said the bill works counter to that goal. Also, he noted that it's ‘unconstitutional” that the bill supersedes his authority as commander-in-chief. “I oppose endless wars, as does the American public. Over bipartisan objections, however, this Act purports to restrict the President's ability to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, Germany, and South Korea,” Trump remarked.
Watch the CNBC News video where CNBC's Kayla Tausche reports that President Trump has vetoed the massive National Defense Authorization Act:
Loading ...Do you support President Trump’s veto of the National Defense Authorization Act? Which measures of the bill do you find unacceptable? Let us know what you think by sharing your comments below.
23 Comments
Yes absolutely I stand with the President! Years ago our government passed legislation that made confederate monuments be treated as UNITED STATES VETERANS! Now the left wants to dismantle history! Be careful what they ask for history has a way of repeating itself!
Yes, there is more in the bill then meets the eye! Must VETO!
What the spineless politicians in DC are forgetting is, that all of the confederate soldiers were given a presidential pardon at the conclusion of the civil war.
Revisionist history has no place in this country, if our history offends you, you should pack your bags and find another country to live in. You don’t find italy rewriting the accomplishments of Christopher Columbus just because of a few controversial things he did. The Germans didn’t try to rewrite the history of their country and the damage that Hitler subjected the entire country to during WWII.
Revisionist history only makes the snowflakes feel better about the country they live in.
The President, as Commander in Chief of the US Military, should retain power over said military. US history, pertaining to the Southern heroes, should not be disparaged. The North and South existed before and after the Civil War. There were great American Military men on both sides of issues which threatened the unity of OUR nation. The war decided the issues. The nation remained whole. Both halves of the nation remain one. By demeaning the dead heroes of the most important internal conflict of our nation, you refight the Civil War, with the goal being to, once again, try to subdue half it’s citizens, for no other reason than the other half’s entertainment and wish to gloat in false superiority. You condemn land and people to undeserved shame. Heroes fight for their people. Heroes deserve their honor. Nations deserve their history. If issues raise up again, history reminds the nature of the issues at stake. There was more to the North’s aggression to the South than slavery. Those truths need to be remembered by this nation. Those issues are being refought today. Yankees trying to crush their “racist, hick, hillbilly”, and other perjorative, countrymen, (“deplorables” ring a bell? “Fly-over country”?) to inflate their rights to more money, services and respect, or esteem. Industry versus agrarian back then, Democrat/Athiests vs Republican/Faiths now. (Note: science exists for ALL, and does not favor either.) Intelligentsia v Idiots, in their estimation. The East and West coast alliance against the heart and soul. Are we one Nation (“Under God” for the faithful, who are equal in human rights, to the non- or un-faithful!) or will we allow our external and internal enemies to prevail in dividing and destroying us, or half of U.S.? Internal voices can be heard, but must not be allowed to rule, if we are to continue and prosper once more.
Yes, I could go on for a long time about what PRESIDENT TRUMP tried to do for the last 4 years and got no help, the only thing he got from the do nothing DEMOCRATS was more false claims against him and his family with no proof and limited backing from his own party. I wonder if they are going to investigate Biden and his kiddie fantasy or Harris on who and how many she had sex with either in a car or a seedy hotel room, and then there is Joe and Hunter and their overseas illegal dealings and drugs. THE DEMO RATS ARE TURNING THIS ONCE GREAT COUNTRY INTO A 3RD WORLD COUNTRY LIKE THAT PIG FROM MINNESOTA COMES FROM AND THE REST OF HER SWILL LOVING FOLLOWERS.
As a former marine, I saw how the commie demoncrats under O` biden – bama admin., left our military totally ineffective due to broken vehicles,no ammunition,tiny pay raises and so many other problems they caused by not supporting our active duty armed forces ,disgusting ,the whole lot of them!!! NOW, they try to tell us how supportive they are of our troops and veterans,LIES,LIES,LIES,They left our military completely bankrupt and now they want to strip our police personnel, making cops totally ineffective, so there is nothing but a total collapse of our country,strip these liberal,big tech,voice suppressing nazi`s of their Article 230 communist powers NOW,immediately
He’s a great leader for this country. The morons don’t agree because they don’t understand. If Obiden gets in, they’ll learn their lesson.
You can bet he vetoed it because there was PORK attached.
Trump is the president I don’t care who’s in their office right now Trump is the president he sees what’s going on the bill needs to be vetoed….
The Republicans are nothing but TRAITORS and that’s why they have been in office so long. Chuck (China Schumer and China Graham). But all who turned against the American people will deal with a Holy God and eternal Hell. One thing for sure all the Republican and Democrats will see the light of Christ and the second death.
I do not agree to change the name of the military bases because of the long history of those bases in America why mess with something that has such a great meaning in America leave as is
The Republicans are nothing but TRAITORS and that’s why they have been in office so long. Chuck (China Schumer and China Graham). But all who turned against the American people will deal with a Holy God and eternal Hell. One thing for sure all the Republican and Democrats will see the light of Christ and the second death.
My prayers are with president Trump ,and my hope is in JESUS CHRIST . this nation needs a revival of GODS LAWS being enforced ! .We need a return to the Truth ,and our focus should be on our maker YAWEH ,without this I fear for our country!
Too much PORK in this Bill that is ONLY to the benefit of the socialist Demo-rat party and their support of our enemies. It does nothing for the AMERICAN CITIZENS to help them survive this STUPID crisis only pours money the support asinine programs in foreign countries and projects to help line their greedy pockets. It also is designed to subvert the PRESIDENT and steal away his powers.
I stand with President Trump!!! And so would Abraham Lincoln, if he were here, in that we should take care of American concerns and needs first , then reach out to others set limits on how much we will give AFTER they demonstrate their EFFORTS to first help themselves. Also, we as a nation ,should choose those who have integrity (not HIDDEN AGENDAS and are competent enough to do the job effectively with no loss to The American Peoples .
James B. As an Ass. Crew Chief on B52s I experienced first hand what happened under Ford and Carter. I want a clean bill echo what Larry said about JESUS. Amen brother !!! Come Lord Jesus.
AMERICA FIRST AND FOREMOST FOR FREEDOM AND FOR AMERICA 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
I truly believe that our country and it’s peoples dire needs should be placed first and foremost. When WE are healed and and only then should we attempt to help other countries. Leave our history alone! When you refuse your history you are doomed to repeat it. I agree with other comments.. if you are not happy with this Country and “OUR HISTORY” pack your bags and GO HOME! It is my belief that any one of you ” U.S. CITIZENS” that want to CHANGE our Country to appease people who came from other countries should pack YOUR bags and GO WITH them….GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!!!
We have three separate branches of government, for a reason. As the PIC for the Executive branch, our president is specifically given the power of the veto for congressional legislation that he deems not to be in the best interest of the country. The founders made it especially hard to overcome that veto with a 2/3 majority of both houses required to override. In their vision there have to be checks and balances for a republican style of government to work. Nothing could be proven truer. Members of our House and Senate, collectively making up the Congress, have become increasingly arrogant and, frankly, too big for their britches of late and a good reality check is a necessary part of making the system work. Congressional leaders fail to understand this and are especially gifted it seems at poor-mouthing when being judicially reigned in by the ONE person in our federal system subject to election by a majority of ALL of the people. The primadonnas in the House and Senate need a good dose of humility and if this slap on the bottom helps remind them that there is only one man in charge, then our system has worked again. The defense bill is always a source of discord with hawks, doves and pacifists never happy with the profligate flow of hard-earned tax dollars into the ever open and cavernous mouth of our bloated government. Congress needs to learn to quit doing the Johnny Two-Step with spending and quit incorporating the never ceasing desire on the part of the defense department for more and more money. Big Tech has shown itself to be unworthy of the protection graciously afforded it in prior legislation. President Trump has recognized the elephant in the room for the huge threat to our nation and to the defense of the cardinal principles that have mad this nation the greatest country in the world. He asked for and should have received the minimum assistance needed in dealing with the danger to our freedom presented by continued allowance of the Section 230 immunities to an enterprise that is showing itself to be as tyrannical as any foreign dictator. There are many other problems with the bill, which the President, in the true spirit of compromise, was willing to let go. Should Congress choose to try to override Trump’s just veto, I hope they fail miserably.
They steal an election with social media’s help and now they want to change our history of our southern
Congress forgot who they work for, the American people, not foreign countries.
He told them he would veto and he’s always kept his word to the American people that he would watch out for America first!!
section limiting power of President to reduce troop strength in various locations without approval of congress.
I RESPECT our president TRUMP. He is a good man. He is a smart and competent man. He has much love for OUR COUNTRY. I thank God for giving President TRUMP to us citizens of the BEST NATION IN THE WORLD. I PRAY TO GOD TO PROTECT AND HONOR THIS MAN WHOM HE GAVE TO US!!! Trump is just what we needed for the past 4 years and what we need for the future. Thank God for Trump!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Those Confederate troops were Americans, son’s and father’s of settlers and colonists that founded this country just like the Union soldiers. They deserve to be remembered.
Go visit a national cemetery and walk through the fields of the civil war dead; both Union and Confederate soldiers and some civilians are buried there with the respect they earned in battle and the horrors of war. It’s sacred ground. And you come to this realization that all these Stones, some rounded on top and some pointed, are all American veterans.
We need a man like Trump in this Nation now more than ever. Communism and socialism are infiltrating our country from the inside of the very Halls of our Capital.