Trump calls Republican lawmaker supporting Biden's infrastructure bill a "traitor"... also death threats issued

▲Former U.S. President Donald Trump [Image source=AP News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Moderate Republican lawmakers who voted in favor of the infrastructure budget bill, a key initiative pushed by U.S. President Joe Biden, are facing hardships.

They have been criticized as traitors by some figures within the Republican Party, including former President Donald Trump, and have even received death threats.

Earlier, on the 5th (local time), the U.S. House of Representatives passed the infrastructure budget bill with 228 votes in favor and 206 against, allocating $1.2 trillion (approximately 1,415 trillion KRW) to improve deteriorating infrastructure such as roads and bridges.

Six progressive Democratic lawmakers voted against it, but 13 Republican lawmakers voted in favor. Had they opposed it, the bill would not have passed.

According to the Washington Post (WP) and others on the 12th (local time), former President Trump, who has strongly hinted at running for the 2024 presidential election and has been challenging President Biden, criticized those Republicans for helping the Democrats, saying they should be ashamed.

Trump said, "I love Republican lawmakers, but I don't love them all," adding, "I don't love the 13 who voted for Biden's infrastructure bill."

A representative of a conservative lawmakers' group even argued that 10 of the 13 should be expelled from their standing committees.

In particular, far-right Republican House member Marjorie Greene Taylor, a Trump supporter, called these lawmakers traitors and publicly shared their names and office phone numbers on Twitter.

In fact, Fred Upton, an 18-term Republican representing a district in Michigan, recently received a voicemail threatening that he, his family, and staff should all die.

Two offices in Michigan were closed for a day and only reopened after security was strengthened.

As a result, although President Biden plans to hold a bill signing ceremony at the White House on the 15th, these Republican lawmakers are reluctant to attend.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki stated at a press briefing on the 12th that a wide range of Republicans, including members of Congress, governors, and mayors, were invited.

Among Republican House members, Tom Reed announced plans to attend, while others did not respond to attendance inquiries, WP reported.

Among Republican senators, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, who have occasionally opposed former President Trump, expressed their intention to attend. When the bill passed the Senate in August, 19 Republican senators voted in favor.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.