Staff Reports
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) raised concerns about President Joe Biden’s recent comments on potentially withholding aid from Israel. In an interview with Politico, Johnson expressed surprise and disbelief at Biden’s remarks and questioned whether they were a result of cognitive decline. He mentioned that the sentiment expressed by Biden was different from what he had been told in private conversations with top administration officials.
@SpeakerJohnson are you cray, cray for saying this! Biden isn't having a senior moment. He is doing what he has been told to do by Obama and the WEF. They know Israel, is about to wipe out Hamas, and they don't want that.https://t.co/wHdZBACWEH
— Smurf ❌ (@Smurf4555) May 9, 2024
Johnson’s reaction reflected his shock at the sudden change in policy and his hope that Biden’s comments were just a “senior moment.” He doubted that Biden’s statements were scripted by his staff and emphasized his previous discussions with administration officials, where he was assured that initial reports about cutting off aid to Israel were inaccurate.
The House speaker added that he had engaged in classified discussions with administration officials and had sought clarification on the delay in the shipment of munitions to Israel. His efforts to confirm the situation led to a direct conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who provided a description consistent with what Johnson had heard before. Feeling betrayed by the apparent change in policy, Johnson sought an explanation from the White House.
This criticism of Biden’s remarks was not limited to Johnson, as many Republicans, including Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), also expressed outrage over the potential withholding of aid from Israel. The collective reaction from Republicans and former allies reflected widespread discontent with the president’s decision.
