House Speaker Mike Johnson recently expressed deep concern over President Joe Biden’s comments regarding potential delays in U.S. weapons shipments to Israel, suggesting the President’s remarks might be attributed to a “senior moment.” In an interview on Politico’s “Playbook Deep Dive” podcast, Johnson expressed his hopes that Biden’s statement was an off-the-cuff remark not reflective of the administration’s official stance.
During a CNN interview with Erin Burnett, President Biden indicated that the U.S. would halt munitions deliveries to Israel if it proceeded with an invasion of the densely populated Gaza city of Rafah. Biden cited the unacceptable level of civilian casualties from previous operations as the reason for this potential halt in arms support. “Civilians have been killed in Gaza as a consequence of those bombs and other ways in which they go after population centers,” Biden stated, emphasizing a moral stance against the continuation of such military aid under those circumstances.
This statement came shortly after the passage of a substantial $95.3 billion aid package last month, which Johnson had collaborated with the Biden administration and House Democrats to secure. This package was intended to support not only Israel but also Ukraine and Taiwan amidst their respective conflicts.
Johnson’s remarks on the podcast followed a tumultuous period in his leadership, surviving a recent attempt led by some of his Republican colleagues to oust him from his position as Speaker. This political maneuver was largely driven by disagreements over his handling of the aid package negotiations.
In response to Biden’s televised comments, Johnson relayed his surprise and disappointment, considering his recent assurances from the administration that there would be no such delays in arms shipments to Israel. He noted, “24 hours ago it was confirmed to me by top administration officials that the policy’s very different than what he stated there. So I hope that’s a senior moment.”
The White House responded to Johnson’s concerns, with spokesman Andrew Bates calling the claims of a policy shift “simply false.” Bates referenced recent public statements and congressional testimony by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, which aligned with the President’s remarks, indicating a consistent government stance on the issue.
The discussion highlights a complex interplay of national defense, foreign policy, and internal political dynamics, as U.S. leaders navigate the sensitive balance of supporting an ally while addressing broader ethical concerns about military engagements.