Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.), the newly appointed Speaker of the House, has been making headlines with his unwavering support for Israel. His recent interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity has stirred controversy, as it suggests a willingness to take extreme measures for the sake of the U.S.-Israel relationship.
During the interview, Johnson expressed his commitment to providing limitless and unconditional support for Israel. He emphasized the importance of working closely with Israel and ensuring transparency in the use of U.S. aid for Volodymyr Zelensky’s administration in Ukraine.
Mike Johnson, the new GOP Speaker of the House, tells Sean Hannity:
– "We can't allow Putin to prevail in Ukraine"
– US "boots on the ground" may be required to "stand with Israel"
– Supports Israel directly attacking Iran
– Russia, China, and Iran are "the new Axis of Evil" pic.twitter.com/1dQAZqpMKn— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) October 27, 2023
“We are not going to abandon them – to be cooperative we need to work together on this,” Johnson stated. “We owe it to the people to know what the plan is, where the money is going to be spent, and we need the auditing for the dollars that we have already sent over there – these are not tough questions, right?”
Johnson went on to highlight the House Republicans’ unwavering support for Israel, referring to it as “our most important ally in the Middle East.”
However, the interview took a contentious turn when Johnson discussed the potential for American involvement in conflicts related to Israel. He suggested that if Israel’s efforts in the region faced significant challenges, the U.S. might consider sending American troops.
“We certainly hope that it doesn’t come to boots on the ground,” Johnson said, acknowledging the seriousness of such a decision. “If it comes to that – and we’ve communicated this to the White House staff today – we have the Article 1 power in the legislative branch of government, and they have Article 2 – they have very limited authority on what they can do to respond without coming to Congress to seek consent.”
In the event of increased tensions involving Iran, Johnson and Hannity concurred that the Middle East could witness a full-scale war, with Israel at the center of it. They both expressed a strong commitment to stand by Israel’s side in the face of any threats to its existence.
“America will back him up,” Hannity stated, referring to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. “The House is back in business, and we are going to stand with Israel,” Johnson affirmed.
The interview highlights the complexities of U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, particularly concerning its relationship with Israel. It remains to be seen how events will unfold and whether the U.S. will become directly involved in conflicts related to Israel’s security.
