Yavapai News

U.S. Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s guitar performance in a Kyiv bar during an official visit was an “embarrassing” moment in President Joe Biden’s foreign policy. 

"Could Biden’s foreign policy be any more embarrassing?" Crane said in a post on X, sharing a video of Blinken performing on stage. 

Blinken visited Ukraine to share messages of support after Biden signed a recent aid package into law which provided military funding for Ukraine. The aid package included $61 billion for Ukraine, $26 billion for the Israel-Hamas conflict, $9 billion for Gaza, and $8 billion for the Indo-Pacific. The bill included $2.4 billion for regional U.S. military operations. 

Blinken met with President Volodymyr Zelensky, who urged him to provide more military support from the U.S., specifically for adding air defense support, according to a CNN article. 

After official appearances, Blinken joined local Ukraine band 19.99 on stage at a speak-easy style bar Barman Dictat in central Kyiv to play a rendition of Neil Young’s Rockin’ in the Free World. The band was told they would have a guest performer beforehand, but did not know it would be Blinken. Band members said Blinken had chosen the song, according to a report from The Guardian.

Eli Crane is currently serving in the U.S. Congress, representing Arizona’s 2nd district. He replaced previous U.S Congress member Tom O'Halleran in 2023. Crane, 43, was born in Tucson, Arizona in 1980. He currently lives in Oro Valley.