Treasury Nixes Ukraine Deal: Time to Rebuild Our States, Not Fund Abroad?
On March 2, 2025, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent dropped a bombshell on CBS’s Face the Nation: there’s no economic deal with Ukraine on the table—for now. After a fiery Oval Office clash on February 28 between President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Bessent confirmed the talks collapsed, blaming Zelenskyy for derailing the “sequencing.” Good riddance, many say—why send a dime overseas when American states like North Carolina are still reeling from disaster? With a $36 trillion national debt and local needs piling up, taxpayers are asking: shouldn’t our money rebuild our communities first?
The Breakdown in D.C.
The stalled deal was ambitious—tie Ukraine’s rare earth minerals to U.S. aid, locking in a partnership Trump touted as a show of “no daylight” with Kyiv against Russia. Bessent pitched it in Kyiv mid-February, offering a draft that promised long-term security via economic stakes. Zelenskyy’s White House visit was supposed to seal it, but he balked, demanding more than minerals-for-aid—think security guarantees or fresh cash. Trump and Vance pushed back hard, accusing him of ingratitude for the $183 billion already sent since 2022. Talks imploded, and Bessent told Face the Nation host Margaret Brennan, “Zelenskyy threw off the sequencing.” No deal, no dimes—end of story.
This isn’t a quiet fizzle—it’s a loud pivot. Posts on X cheer the halt, with sentiment roaring: “Keep our money home!” The Treasury’s stance, backed by Trump’s “America First” reboot, signals a shift: no more blank checks abroad without ironclad benefits here. Zelenskyy’s still game—he posted on X March 1 he’s “ready to sign”—but the U.S. isn’t budging. For taxpayers eyeing a $6.8 trillion 2025 budget, that’s a win worth celebrating.
Why Not Send a Dime Abroad?
The case is stark. North Carolina’s a poster child—Hurricane Helene’s $53 billion tab from September 2024 still dwarfs FEMA’s $1.2 billion response. Six months later, on March 2, 2025, 15,000 families remain displaced, I-40’s a mess, and rural water’s spotty. The state sent $72 billion in federal taxes in 2023—where’s the return? Compare that to $183 billion for Ukraine, $14 billion for Israel last year, or $200 million to Haiti in January. X users fume: “NC’s begging while Kyiv’s banking—why?”
It’s not just Carolina. The Government Accountability Office flags $275 billion in “improper payments” yearly—fraud, waste, misfired grants. Infrastructure’s crumbling—$1 trillion needed nationwide, per the American Society of Civil Engineers. Trump’s February 26 Supreme Court win, pausing $1.9 billion in foreign aid, nods to this: cash can stay home legally. Musk’s DOGE claims $1.5 billion in cuts already—why not redirect billions more to potholes, not proxies?
American Taxpayers First
The logic’s ironclad: we’re not a global ATM. States like North Carolina prop up the U.S.—$92 billion in agriculture, $14 billion in manufacturing—yet Helene’s scars linger. Freedom here means roofs, roads, jobs—not endless wars. Trump’s “no deal” echoes his February 28 Zelenskyy ultimatum: “Take it or leave it.” Bessent’s March 2 confirmation doubles down—our $72 billion tax haul shouldn’t fund Ukraine’s $500 billion rebuild (Trump’s ask) when Asheville’s businesses are 30% shuttered. X sentiment aligns: “Rebuild our states, not theirs.”
This isn’t charity fatigue—it’s fairness. The U.S. spent $6.8 trillion in 2024; $183 billion to Ukraine could’ve rebuilt every Helene-hit county twice. Europe’s $145 billion to Kyiv shows they can lead—Bessent told Brennan, “The EU should handle security.” Why drain our coffers when allies lag? Taxpayers aren’t stingy—they’re stretched, and states need rebuilding now.
The Counter—and Why It’s Thin
Critics howl: cutting Ukraine risks Russian wins, spiking oil prices—hitting U.S. wallets. Zelenskyy warns a ceasefire without guarantees is “dangerous”; Europe frets over NATO’s edge. A CSIS report (March 1) says aid’s a lifeline—$4 billion in gear still sits undelivered, per DOD logs. Fair points—but Europe’s got cash; Germany and France can step up. North Carolina’s $53 billion need isn’t “what if”—it’s here, now. Domestic crises trump foreign gambles when FEMA’s fund is a measly $20 billion split nationwide.
The “global leadership” line flops too. Trump’s court win proves legal flex—why not use it? Ukraine’s fight matters, but $1.2 billion for Helene’s 2% recovery screams mispriority. Bessent’s “no deal” isn’t retreat—it’s recalibration: America’s dime, America’s dime.
Home Before Abroad
Treasury’s “no deal” with Ukraine is a green light—keep our money where it’s needed. States like North Carolina, still hurting, aren’t asking for handouts—they’re owed for their $72 billion tax haul. Helene’s $53 billion bill, unmet by $1.2 billion, mocks the $183 billion sent abroad. Musk’s DOGE cuts, Trump’s legal wins, and Bessent’s stance align: taxpayers deserve rebuilding, not rhetoric. Who agrees? Anyone who’s seen a storm’s scars—or paid a tax bill. Our states first—no dime abroad ‘til we’re whole.
