Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) engaged in a heated exchange with HuffPost reporter Jonathan Nicholson regarding the senator's stance on the Russia-Ukraine war and U.S. aid to Ukraine. The conversation, obtained by Fox News Digital, stemmed from Russia's arrest warrant against Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) for his pro-Ukraine statements.
Nicholson questioned whether Russia's action should solidify U.S. support for Ukraine. Hawley retorted by asking who was advocating for Russia, challenging Nicholson to identify anyone who had voiced support for the country or downplayed its role in the conflict. Nicholson struggled to name specific individuals, suggesting a perceived link between opposing further aid to Ukraine and supporting Russia.
Hawley argued that prioritizing aid to Ukraine shouldn't come at the expense of addressing the threat posed by China. He questioned Nicholson's stance on China, drawing parallels between prioritizing aid to Ukraine and addressing the threat posed by China. He cited China's recent establishment of a listening post in Cuba, threats towards Taiwan, crackdown on Hong Kong, and personal sanctions against him as evidence of China's aggressive behavior. Hawley questioned whether neglecting to prioritize China constituted support for the communist regime.
Nicholson, identifying himself as a "lowly reporter," admitted difficulty in naming anyone explicitly supporting Russia. Hawley pressed further, highlighting China's threats and actions against him personally, including being banned and sanctioned by the country. He inquired whether Nicholson considered China a "good actor" and a lesser threat than Russia. Nicholson attempted to respond, but Hawley dismissed his comments, suggesting a lack of understanding on the reporter's part.
Hawley concluded the exchange by stating his intent to release the recording if HuffPost didn't publish an article about it. As of the report's release, Nicholson hadn't published any related articles. HuffPost's parent company, BuzzFeed, confirmed that while their journalists frequently speak with elected officials, not all conversations result in published articles, and they weren't planning to publish a story based on this particular exchange.
