WASHINGTON — Dozens of U.S. lawmakers were trying to make their way this weekend to the Munich Security Conference to assure allies of America's reliability, but burdened with political crises at home, their entrance to the annual gathering of international leaders was more of a limp than a stride.
Some didn't make the trip at all. House Speaker Mike Johnson canceled an official delegation of roughly two dozen House members who had planned to attend the event, leaving those lawmakers either to find their own way to Germany or send their regrets.
While two bipartisan delegations from the Senate still made the trip, they departed amid bitter fights over how U.S. immigration agents are carrying out President Donald Trump's sweeping crackdowns on illegal immigration, which have included fatal shootings of two people protesting the raids, as well as the Trump administration's recent failed effort to indict six Democratic lawmakers who produced a video urging U.S. military members not to obey ''illegal orders.''
''It is a little bit, you know, depressing to be here with what we have to deal with at home,'' Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, who was among those investigated by the Department of Justice, said in a live interview with Politico in Munich.
For over six decades, the annual conference has gathered world leaders in pursuit of cooperation for shared security, with the United State often playing a leading role. But Trump has upended his nation's posture toward the rest of the world, especially Europe. And while many lawmakers who attended tried to assure European counterparts that the U.S. still wants a seat at the table, it was clear they were still grappling with the rapidly changing political environment at home.
''I expect to have a number of challenging conversations with friends and allies about their concern and alarm about what they've seen federal law enforcement under this administration do in Minneapolis and the attempt to indict six of my colleagues and other steps that frankly have more of the hallmarks of authoritarian societies than democracies,'' said Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware.
Senate's bipartisan traditions are slipping
The security forum in recent years has been a reinforcing event for the coalition of nations backing Ukraine in its defense against Russia's invasion — a cause that once enjoyed strong support from Republicans. But several GOP senators who have participated in years past and hold spots on committees overseeing the U.S. military and foreign affairs decided this year to stay home. The delegations that did attend included significantly more Democrats.
