House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, holds a news conference with members of the House Republican Conference at Cannon House, Wednesday, March 6, 2024, ahead of Thursday’s State of the Union address.
Tom Williams | Chongqing Roll Call Company | Getty Images
House Speaker Mike Johnson said Thursday that he will invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress.
Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, also blasted Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for his recent criticism of Netanyahu’s handling of Gaza’s war against terrorist group Hamas.
“We will definitely extend an invitation to Netanyahu,” Johnson told CNBC’s “Squawk Box.”
“We’re just trying to put a timeline on all of this,” he added.
Johnson himself has been invited to address the Knesset.
Schumer last week condemned Netanyahu and called on Israel to hold elections to oust him.
The New York Democrat accused the prime minister of “putting his own political survival ahead of Israel’s best interests.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looks at U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (not pictured) during a joint news conference in Jerusalem on May 25, 2021.
Menachem Kahana | Pool | Reuters
Schumer said Netanyahu, who has long been aligned with former President Trump and other right-wing politicians, is “driving support for Israel around the world to historic lows.”
Johnson on Thursday called Schumer’s comments “almost shocking, almost unbelievable.”
“It is patently absurd to suggest to our strongest ally in the Middle East, the only stable democracy, that he knows better how to run their democracy,” Johnson said.
“Imagine if I were on your show this morning calling for regime change in Ukraine, fighting for their survival in the midst of a crisis,” he said.
“This is what Israel is facing now, and it’s outrageous that the Senate leader would say something like this… I hope Schumer won’t comment on all this.”
When asked if Schumer would agree As the Senate convened with the House of Representatives to hear Netanyahu’s speech, Johnson responded: “I think we’ll find out.”
“I was the one who extended the invitation to speak on the House floor, and if we can speak on the House floor that would be fine,” the speaker said.
“But I think the vast majority of the Senate is willing to stand up for Netanyahu and Israel.”
Netanyahu spoke to Republican senators in a closed virtual meeting on Wednesday Meeting.
According to NBC News, Schumer declined Netanyahu’s request to address the Senate Democratic caucus in the same manner.
A spokesperson for Schumer did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment on Johnson’s remarks.
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