GOP senators said they were impressed by new House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who had a meteoric rise from little-know vice chair of the House GOP conference to second in line to the presidency.
This follows a Nov. 1 meeting Mr. Johnson had with GOP senators one week after winning the gavel and comes as the House is scheduled on Nov. 2 to vote on a standalone bill to provide supplemental funding to Israel amid Hamas and Hezbollah terrorist attacks.
“I thought the speaker was very impressive. I know him well,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) told The Epoch Times. “I consider him a friend. I think he’s gonna do a terrific job. It is an incredibly difficult job with a four-vote majority.”
Mr. Cruz said people in the closed-door meeting were impressed with Mr. Johnson’s character.
“Herding cats doesn’t do justice to the inherent difficulties on the job, but I think he he is smart. He’s principled, he’s conservative. He’s a constitutionalist,” he said. “And he also brings a humble spirit, which I think is incredibly beneficial to trying to fulfill that leadership role. I think everyone in the room was really impressed by the speaker’s discussion.”
“Mike is not a an emotional guy,” Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) told reporters. “He’s very consistent, very thoughtful and policy-driven.”
“I think he made a really great impression,” Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) told reporters.
GOP senators also talked about being in agreement with him on separating Israel funding from other items, including supplemental assistance for Ukraine in its war against Russian aggression.
“He wants to do Israel first,” said Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), who is opposed to Ukraine aid. “And then he said their next order of business would actually be Ukraine–[U.S. southern] border [funding].”
“I think the good news is everything he said in there something that I’ve heard before,” Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) told reporters. “And I think that he and I both agree that we need to stand beside Israel right now that America has the opportunity to be that shining city on the hill once again, that America has the opportunity to do the right thing, and unequivocally support Israel.”
Mr. Marshall remarked that if Mr. Johnson were to put forth a bill combining funding for Israel and Ukraine, “his caucus would revolt and it would probably be the end of the speakership.”
Currently, it only takes one member of the House to put forth a motion to vacate the speaker’s chair. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) did so several weeks ago and it led to the ouster of Mr. Johnson’s predecessor, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).
“We want to make sure he has the room to do what he needs to do to move to the Israel bill outright,” Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) told reporters, referring to Mr. Johnson. “And then, clearly, we’re going to have these other discussions. But I just think the best way to do this is one by one.”
The legislation sets aside $801.4 million—which can be used until Sept. 30, 2026, the end of the 2025–2026 fiscal year—for Israel procuring army ammunition, $10 million for naval weapons acquisitions, and $38.6 million for air force missiles.
Most notably, the bill allocates $4 billion—which can be used until Sept. 30, 2026—for the Iron Dome missile defense and David’s Sling air defense systems. There is no specific funding for the Arrow missile defense system.
