The native of Holly served as a CIA analyst for two presidents, completed three tours of duty in Iraq, and worked for the Department of Defense. She claims that the ocean is unable to protect Americans from Putin. MICHIGAN—Under pressure from Donald Trump, Republicans in the US House of Representatives are declining to give Ukraine military assistance. The US Representative cautions, “And if you think that doesn’t affect folks here in Michigan—think again.”. Elissa Slotkin of the 7th District in Michigan. Slotkin stated to The ‘Gander that Americans’ security in Michigan will be jeopardized by House Republicans’ persistent attempts to withhold $60 billion in critically needed military aid for Ukraine, which was first requested by President Joe Biden last October.

It is possible for an enemy to attack our homes and take out our power grid in the middle of Michigan’s winter. In an exclusive interview, the Holly native stated, “That would undoubtedly have an impact on people’s lives.”. Slotkin, who has been representing District 7 since 2019, is an expert in national security, unlike many other members of the 118th Congress. She worked three tours in Iraq as a CIA analyst supporting US troops in their fight against violent militias. She served on President George W. Bush’s National Security Council. Bush, as well as for President Barack Obama’s Department of Defense. Additionally, Slotkin oversaw defense strategy in Russia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe while serving as acting assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs from 2015 to 2017.

One of the most difficult things to explain to skeptic audiences who respond, “Look, I’m dealing with inflation,” has been this. “We’re sending millions in military aid to the Ukrainians, and I’m dealing with the economy and housing prices—that doesn’t compute,” Slotkin remarked. She said, “She gets that.”. Growing up on a three-generation family farm, Slotkin worked for the government until he began his career. She is frequently described as a “Midwestern Democrat,” or as someone who prioritizes the middle class and the economy.

The United States has essentially declared since the end of World War II that it prefers democracies to authoritarian regimes, she said. This is how she views the situation. And we will defend a democracy in the event that it is invaded. In essence, that is what we are doing, but we are doing it without requiring American sons and daughters to fight in combat. “In order to ensure that there aren’t just American and other boots on the ground, we are sending weapons and supplies, and other nations are sending the same.”. It is merely giving the Ukrainians more power and weapons. Furthermore, while the cost is high—no question about it—it would be ten times higher if we simply let Putin conquer Ukraine before moving on to the next and the next nation, leading us to eventually envision ourselves in a hot war in which American sons and daughters—not just treasure, but blood—are being called into action. According to Slotkin, the ramifications of that would be far more serious than most politicians are prepared to acknowledge.

“The fact is, I believe that if we decide that we are no longer defending democracies and that there is no distinction between an authoritarian regime and a democracy, then, first and foremost, American principled leadership in the world will come to an end.”. However, it also means handing over power to nations like China and Russia. Slotkin emphasized that allowing Vladimir Putin to “roll over” Ukraine might have unintended consequences, such as inflation in the United States. “Let Putin trample all over Ukraine and hold all that grain if you care about food prices and want inflation to go down. Ukraine is the breadbasket of Europe. Don’t be shocked if the price of grain, which goes into so many things, is going to shoot the price of food way up.”. “Michiganders would suffer more if Russia destroyed Ukraine’s farmland or withheld its grain from the world,” stated Slotkin, who visited the war-torn country in 2022 and had a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

“It is not surprising if countries with lower incomes than ours experience actual food insecurity, political unrest, and increased levels of social violence,” stated Slotkin. “Egypt and other locations that are essential to our shipping concerns me. The cost of shipping increases all of a sudden. It is not difficult to envision the profound consequences that Putin’s takeover of Ukraine would have on the global economy, particularly with regard to how it would impact international shipping and freedom of navigation. “Our economy in the United States would be immediately impacted if that washing machine or product you’ve been waiting for suddenly doubled or tripled in price due to shipping,” she went on.

She also brought up the fact that a brazen Vladimir Putin is capable of attacking the United States in other ways. She remarked, “It’s not just tanks and airplanes.”. It’s these instruments with a tech twist. Our houses are targets for attacks.

“[Putin] has demonstrated a readiness to attack nations and their neighbors, as well as an attempt to sway our elections and incite unrest among Americans. The Russians possess the ability to launch a cyberattack within the United States, which would be analogous to a cyber-9/11 for us. “.

If given the opportunity, Slotkin and the majority of her House Democratic colleagues would gladly vote in favor of military assistance to Ukraine. She is adamantly opposed to the notion that the US can continue to be safe and unaffected by external conflicts worldwide. Two years into Russia’s deadly and unprovoked invasion of their country, the beleaguered Ukrainians are running out of weapons to defend themselves. In February, the Senate passed a bipartisan bill that would give them military assistance.

However, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson has prevented House members from voting on the bill for several months. Donald Trump, the likely Republican presidential nominee, put pressure on him to act, calling Putin a “genius” for his invasion of Ukraine.

“This is brilliant,” I exclaimed when I saw the television screen when I first entered yesterday. Putin proclaims a sizable chunk of Ukraine—of Ukraine—to be independent. In a 2022 radio interview with “The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show,” Trump remarked, “Oh, that’s wonderful.”

At a CNN Town Hall in 2023, Trump further promised that he “will have that war settled in one day, 24 hours” if elected president in November.

Mike Pence, his own former vice president, criticized that as a surrender to Putin. “Giving Vladimir Putin what he wanted is the only way you could solve this war in a day,” he stated to Fox News.

Slotkin asks Michiganders to consider if they would prefer that America give up its position as the world’s preeminent democratic leader or if they think it is important to maintain that position.

“I would always prefer American leadership over Russian or Chinese leadership, even though no one would ever say that our leadership is perfect,” she remarked.

Though 900,000 Michiganders of Polish and Ukrainian heritage “get” that Putin poses a threat to both Ukraine and Eastern Europe, Slotkin continues to be aware of this fact.

She stated, “We have to decide if we’re going to (continue to) back the Ukrainians after Putin pulled this ridiculous ploy. “I believe that if we do nothing, the cost to us in treasure and blood will be far higher.”

She wants her fellow Michiganders to be exempt from paying that bill.