A day after former President Donald J. Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Senator JD Vance of Ohio criticized Zelensky during a campaign stop in Newtown, Pennsylvania. Vance took issue with Zelensky’s visit to an ammunition factory in Scranton, where Democratic Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro joined him. Vance expressed discontent, saying that after the U.S. had invested $200 billion in Ukraine, he expected Zelensky to publicly thank American taxpayers, particularly those in Pennsylvania.

Despite Vance's claims, Zelensky did express gratitude during his visit, acknowledging the support of the United States and thanking the workers at the plant for their contributions to the war effort in Ukraine. Zelensky noted that the workers had “saved millions of Ukrainians,” emphasizing the importance of their work in the context of the ongoing conflict. However, the visit stirred controversy among Republican lawmakers, who accused the trip of being partisan and inappropriate before the upcoming elections. House Speaker Mike Johnson went so far as to demand Ukraine fire its U.S. ambassador over the incident.

Vance, a vocal critic of U.S. aid to Ukraine, previously drew Zelensky’s anger by suggesting that Ukraine might need to concede territory to Russia for a peace agreement. This prompted Zelensky to label Vance as “too radical” in a recent interview, leading Vance to respond from the campaign trail in Michigan, asserting that he does not appreciate Zelensky’s comments regarding American taxpayer expectations. The exchange highlights the growing tension between some Republican leaders and Ukraine's leadership, reflecting broader divisions within the party regarding foreign aid and U.S. involvement in global conflicts.