House Speaker Mike Johnson has defended the U.S.-Israel alliance as a strategic necessity, calling for ‘universal rejection’ of antisemitism amid growing divisions within the Republican Party over support for Israel. His comments come as some House Republicans, including Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie, challenge the party’s traditional pro-Israel stance, signaling a potential rift in GOP priorities.
During an interview on ‘The Katie Miller Podcast,’ Johnson stressed that while some Americans may view support for Israel through a ‘scripturally based’ lens, the alliance’s value lies in its role as the region’s sole stable democracy. He emphasized that even if individuals do not accept the religious motivations behind U.S. support, they must recognize the geopolitical importance of maintaining an alliance with Israel, particularly in a ‘tinderbox’ region. Johnson reiterated that antisemitism should be ‘universally rejected’ and called out as a threat to national unity and values.
Meanwhile, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a vocal critic of U.S. policy toward Israel, has been advocating for reduced military aid to Jerusalem and has publicly questioned the influence of pro-Israel lobbying groups on American foreign policy. Greene, who announced she will resign from Congress in January 2026, has become a leading voice in the ongoing debate over Israel’s role in U.S. diplomacy. Similarly, Rep. Thomas Massie, who has long opposed U.S. military aid to Israel and criticized the influence of pro-Israel lobbying groups such as AIPAC, continues to push for a reevaluation of the party’s alignment with Israel.
These growing internal disagreements within the GOP could have implications for the party’s foreign policy agenda and its approach to international alliances. As the debate over Israel’s role in American foreign policy intensifies, the potential for further division within the Republican Party may shape the future direction of U.S. international relations and domestic political discourse.