Speaker Johnson Invites Israel’s Netanyahu to Address Congress
‘I would love to have him come in and address a joint session of Congress,’ Mr. Johnson said. ‘We will certainly extend that invitation.’
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) stated on March 21 that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be invited to address Congress.
Rumors circulated on March 20 regarding the Republican house speaker’s contemplation of inviting the Israeli leader. In an interview on CNBC’s Squawk Box program on March 21, Mr. Johnson confirmed plans to extend the invitation.
“I would love to have him come in and address a joint session of Congress,” he mentioned. “We will certainly extend that invitation.”
The Louisiana Republican mentioned that logistics are being figured out to accommodate the invitation.
Mr. Schumer faced backlash for his remarks, leading Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to defend Netanyahu’s leadership and criticize Schumer’s stance.
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Although Mr. Johnson didn’t explicitly tie his efforts to invite Mr. Netanyahu to address Congress to further chastisement of Mr. Schumer, he did seize the CNBC interview segment to once again censure the Democratic Senate leader.
“What Chuck Schumer did was almost staggering, just unbelievable,” Mr. Johnson commented on March 21. “To suggest to our strongest ally in the Middle East, the only stable democracy, that he knows better how to run their democracy is just patently absurd.”
Mr. Johnson called Schumer’s comments “outrageous” and “a terrible signal to our allies and our enemies around the world,” urging the Senate majority leader to refrain from making such comments.
Schumer Nixed Netanyahu Meeting With Senate Democrats
Following Mr. Schumer’s statements on the Senate floor, Mr. Netanyahu had sought a meeting with U.S. senators.
“Sen. Schumer made it clear that he doesn’t think these discussions should happen in a partisan manner. That’s not helpful to Israel,” a spokesperson for Mr. Schumer’s office mentioned on March 20.
During a separate press event on March 20, Mr. Schumer defended his Israeli election remarks and appealed to Republicans not to politicize his disagreements with the Netanyahu government.
“I care deeply about Israel and its long-term future,” stated Mr. Schumer, emphasizing the importance of not making the matter a partisan issue.
It remains uncertain if Mr. Johnson can convene a joint session for the Israeli prime minister to address Congress without support from the Democrat-controlled Senate. Regarding Mr. Schumer’s backing for such a joint session, Mr. Johnson remarked, “I guess we’ll find out.”
“I’m the one that extends the invitations to speak in the House and if we just have the House that’s fine, too,” Mr. Johnson added. “But I think a big majority of that Senate would want to come and stand in support of Netanyahu and Israel.”
