House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed feelings of betrayal after President Biden threatened to withhold US weapons shipments to Israel. Johnson hoped that Biden’s comments were the result of a “senior moment” and not indicative of a change in policy. Concerns over civilian casualties in Israel’s conflict with Hamas led Biden to state that the US would stop sending munitions if certain conditions were not met, prompting backlash from Republicans.
Despite objections from the GOP, Johnson worked with the Biden administration and House Democrats to pass a $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine and Israel, as well as for the defense of Taiwan. Johnson faced an attempt by Republican colleagues to remove him from his leadership post, following the ouster of his predecessor Kevin McCarthy. However, he survived the challenge and continued in his role as Speaker of the House.
Johnson recounted that reports of slowing weapons shipments to Israel had surfaced before Biden’s comments on CNN. Despite assurances from the Biden administration that the reports were incorrect, Biden’s unexpected statement contradicted what Johnson had been previously told. The Speaker was taken aback by the discrepancy in messaging, considering it a drastic departure from the promises made during negotiations for the aid package’s passage.
The White House clarified that the delayed shipments mentioned by Biden were not related to the aid package that had been approved. Johnson felt that Biden’s remarks had breached their agreement and were a betrayal of the understanding they had reached. He hoped that the President’s comments were an isolated incident and not a reflection of a substantive policy shift. Johnson emphasized that the passing of the aid package was a collaborative effort, involving compromise and negotiations between different parties.
The episode of potential weapon shipment delays to Israel amid the conflict with Hamas underscored tensions within the Biden administration and between political factions in Congress. Despite Johnson’s hopes for improved relations between Republicans and the White House, Biden’s statements threatened to reignite partisan divisions. The fallout from the incident raised questions about the consistency and communication of US foreign policy.
In the aftermath of the controversy, Johnson remained committed to working with both sides to address national security and humanitarian concerns. The disagreement over arms shipments highlighted the complexities of international relations and the challenges of balancing competing interests. Johnson’s handling of the situation reflected his dedication to finding common ground while navigating political differences and upholding his responsibilities as Speaker of the House.
