House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed feeling betrayed by President Biden’s threat to withhold US weapons shipments to Israel, hoping that it could be attributed to a “senior moment.” Johnson believed that Biden’s comments were off-script and not something his staff told him to say, deviating from what had been established as policy. The 81-year-old commander-in-chief cited concerns over civilian casualties in Israel’s conflict with Hamas as the reason for his statement during an interview with CNN’s Erin Burnett.
Despite the GOP’s objections, Johnson had previously worked with the Biden administration and House Democrats to pass a $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine and Israel, as well as to support Taiwan’s defense. Following the bill’s passage, Johnson faced an attempt led by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and other Republicans to remove him from his leadership position after the ouster of his predecessor last year. Johnson survived the attempt and continued to express his concerns over Biden’s unexpected remarks regarding US weapons shipments to Israel.
Johnson recounted how he had been assured by Biden administration officials that the reports of slowing weapons shipments to Israel were incorrect, only to hear the president’s comments on CNN. The Speaker considered Biden’s statement a betrayal, as it contradicted promises made during their negotiations for the aid package. According to Johnson, the White House explained that the delayed shipments referenced by Biden were from previous tranches and not related to the recently passed aid package. Despite this explanation, Johnson viewed Biden’s comments as going against what had been agreed upon.
While discussing the situation on the “Playbook Deep Dive” podcast, Johnson emphasized his hope that Biden’s remarks were just a “senior moment.” He reflected on the significant shift in policy that Biden’s comments represented and expressed his disappointment in the president’s unexpected stance on US weapons shipments to Israel. Johnson’s frustration stemmed from what he perceived as conflicting information from the Biden administration and the president’s public statements, which he believed undermined their prior agreements.
The Speaker’s concerns over the potential impact on US-Israel relations following Biden’s threat to withhold weapons shipments were evident in his statements. Johnson continued to stress the importance of a strong alliance between the two countries, despite the challenges that arose from Biden’s comments. He highlighted the need for consistency in US foreign policy decisions and lamented the perceived lack of coordination between the administration’s promises and the president’s public declarations on matters such as arms supplies to Israel.
In conclusion, Johnson’s response to President Biden’s threat to halt US weapons shipments to Israel reflected his deep sense of betrayal and disappointment. The Speaker’s efforts to secure aid for Israel and other nations affected by conflict were overshadowed by the unexpected shift in policy articulated by the president. Johnson’s hope that Biden’s comments were a mere lapse in judgment underscored the complexities of US foreign policy and the challenges of navigating relationships with allies in the midst of conflicting signals from the administration’s top officials.