Sullivan claims U.S. House Democratic leader is an 'appeaser' of Chinese dictator

The U.S. Congress deleted a provision in the defense authorization act that would have required the Interior Secretary to approve a 211-mile road to the Ambler mining district from the Dalton Highway within 30 days.

Sen. Dan Sullivan, author of the Ambler amendment, claimed on the Senate floor that the language was removed by an “appeaser” of Chinese dictator Xi Jinping.

While the bright red graphic Sullivan used as a show-and-tell prop featured the black outline of a person and a big yellow question mark suggesting the appeasers are unknown, Sullivan took a series of cheap shots at one man.

“I heard it was Hakeem Jeffries,” said Sullivan, questioning the patriotism of the Democratic leader of the House minority.

“I don’t know maybe he’s pro Xi Jinping. But he stripped out the provision that was gonna make us stronger in terms of critical minerals. The week that the Chinese said they’re gonna ban exports of critical minerals to America. Good job over there Minority Leader Jeffries. I’m sure Xi Jinping was applauding your actions," Sullivan said.

Four things strike me about this.

First, Sullivan said he “heard” it was Jeffries. The junior senator may think that this excuses his preposterous claim that the Minority Leader of the U.S. House is a supporter of the Chinese dictator. It doesn’t.

Second, regardless of what he heard, it is not possible for one member to make a deletion of this sort, unless others go along with it. The House, after all, is allegedly under Republican control. Jeffries did not have supreme command over the bill.

While Sen. Dan Sullivan showed a graphic claiming the “appeasers” of the Chinese dictators are unknown, he took a series of cheap shots at one man he claims is the appeaser, Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries.

Third, removing this provision does not make anyone an appeaser of the Chinese dictator. There is real debate about the Ambler Road and oversimplifying this by claiming that the choice is between Communists and patriots is insulting.

Fourth, the Ambler Road will be approved shortly, perhaps by President Elon, so Sullivan is exaggerating the consequences of the failure of his Ambler mandate. It is also certain that the forthcoming approval will be challenged in court.

Sullivan continued his attack on Jeffries, based on what he “heard,” regarding the elimination of another Sullivan provision in the bill, one that banned the U.S. military from buying fish that originates from China or is processed in China.

He said an Alaskan asked him, “Why are we selling Chinese Communist fish to our military members, to our commissaries, to our chow halls, soldiers, marines, sailors, eating this fish?”

“It’s horrible fish, by the way. Why are we selling this to them? Why is our military buying Communist fish from the Chinese. When they can buy great Alaskan seafood? Freedom fish.”

Freedom Fish, a descendant of Freedom Fries.

Sullivan said he has no clue why Freedom Fish aren’t on military menus, but Communist fish are.

“So I had a provision saying hey, you think the Chinese are letting their military eat great Alaskan freedom fish? You think the Chinese buy Alaskan fish?”

“We’re not gonna buy Chinese Communist fish. Why should we help those guys? They don’t buy our fish. Let’s see American fish. Alaskan fish. Mississippi fish, Maine lobsters.”

“Heck, why are we buying Chinese Communist fish? Let’s buy Alaskan fish for our troops. Guess what? Somebody, I think it was Hakeem Jeffries again, in the middle of the night, said nope, we’re gonna strip that out.”

“Let’s undermine Alaskan and American fishermen and let’s promote Chinese slave labor, fishermen and continue to export and have our military members eat that fish. What a dumb idea. Who’s doing this? Who’s the Xi Jinping appeaser in the Congress? I don’t know.”

“Hakeem Jeffries, I heard it was you. Maybe you want to come and talk to us. But why would you get rid of that provision? Helps Alaskans, helps fishermen, helps American fishermen, helps our troops, helps the military. Nope. We’re gonna rip that out and we’re gonna make sure Chinese fish exports which use slave labor can still go onto our military bases. I can’t believe it, but that’s what happened.”

(I don’t know enough about this topic, but I heard the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute says China was the largest importer, by volume, of Alaska fish in 2023, buying more than 25 percent of Alaska fish exports. China is also a major center for reprocessing Freedom Fish and turning them into Communist Fish. Sullivan’s amendment would ban the military from buying Alaska Freedom Fish processed in China.)

Sullivan said a third provision, one that required reports on investments in Chinese military capabilities by U.S. companies was removed. He said he “thinks” it was also Jeffries who did that.

“Come on guys, whose side are you on? Really?”

Regarding China, there is plenty of material in the defense authorization bill that Xi Jinping will not like. House Republicans published this handy guide boasting about all they are doing “Deterring China.”

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