Speaker Johnson postpones speech before Knesset amid Israel-Iran conflict
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is postponing his trip to Israel this weekend, when he was supposed to address the Knesset, as the conflict between Israel and Iran escalates.
Johnson was scheduled to appear before the Knesset, located in Jerusalem, on Sunday, and become the third ever Speaker of the House to address Israel’s lawmaking body. But the Speaker is delaying his plans after Israel launched what it called a preemptive strike in Iran, prompting a back-and-forth volley of missiles between the two countries.
“Due to the complex situation currently unfolding in Iran and Israel, Speaker Ohana and I have made the decision to postpone the special session of the Knesset,” Johnson wrote in a statement Monday, referring to Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana. “We look forward to rescheduling the address in the near future and send our prayers to the people of Israel and the Middle East.”
It remains unclear when Johnson plans to make the trip in the future.
Johnson announced his trip to the Knesset last week, amid a wave of antisemitic attacks in the U.S., which the Speaker has strongly condemned. He would have followed former Speakers Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) and Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in delivering remarks to the Israeli governing body.
When announcing the trip, Johnson said speaking before the Knesset would be “one of the highest honors of my life.”
The decision to postpone the trip and speech came days after Israel late last week launched its strike targeting Tehran's nuclear, missile and military complex. Iran retaliated, and the two countries have been trading fire since.
Israel and other countries — including the U.S. — have tried to limit Iran’s nuclear abilities. The Trump administration has said the U.S. was not involved in Israel's offensive.
The Speaker expressed support for Israel after the initial strike, writing: “Israel and the United States have been united, including in our shared insistence that Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon.”
“President Trump and his Administration have worked tirelessly to ensure that outcome. Unfortunately, Iran has refused to agree and even declared yesterday its intent to build a new enrichment facility,” he wrote on social media. “Israel decided it needed to take action to defend itself. They were clearly within their right to do so. Iran will face grave consequences if it responds by unjustifiably targeting U.S. interests.”