Lawmakers reacted after Iran launched drones from its own territory. to israel on Saturday night, calling on the White House to “stand firm” and “stop coddling Iran.”
President Mike Johnson pledged the United States’ “full determination” to support Israel.
“As Israel faces this ferocious attack from Iran, the United States must show our full resolve to support our critical ally,” Johnson said in a statement. “The world must be sure: Israel is not alone.”
Johnson vowed to “insist on an appropriate response” from the White House.
“I will continue to work with the White House to insist on an appropriate response,” he said. “The Biden Administration’s weakening of Israel and appeasement of Iran have contributed to these terrible events.”
ISRAELI MILITARY WARNS OF ‘DANGEROUS ESCALATION’ BY IRAN, AND IS ‘READY’ TO DEFEND
President Mike Johnson discusses an election integrity package at a press conference with former President Trump. (Getty Images)
“Now more than ever, we must support Israel,” former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., wrote in an X post.
Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., the ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the United States’ commitment to Israel is “unwavering.”
“This is the time for the United States to show that we are united with our allies. Our shared enemies, including Iran and its proxies, need to know that our commitment is unwavering,” he said in a press release. “We must join with Israel to ensure that Iran’s aggression is met with resolute action and resounding force.”
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, attends a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting in the Hart Building on May 11, 2023, in Washington, DC. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, condemned Iran’s attack on Israel and blamed the Biden administration.
“Iran has surrounded Israel and been attacking our Israeli allies from almost all fronts for months. They have launched attacks from Syria, Iraq, Yemen, the West Bank, Hezbollah-controlled Lebanon and, of course, the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. Now “They have intensified by launching attacks directly from Iranian territory,” Cruz said in a statement. “These attacks are enabled and funded by deliberate political decisions made by Joe Biden and Biden officials, which have allowed approximately $100 billion to flow to Iran since 2021. These policies have made Americans and Israelis catastrophically more vulnerable.”
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., said President Biden must “stand firm” with Israel and “stop coddling” Iran.
“Iran’s drone strikes show us that President Biden’s approach to Iran and the Middle East is backwards,” he wrote in an X post. “Now that we are at risk of entering World War III, the United States must respect Israel’s commitment to democracy. The president must stand firm and stop coddling Iran immediately.”
Rep. Mike Lawler, R.N.Y., said the Iranian regime’s “consistent” use of powers “justifies” immediate U.S. action.
“Enough is enough: the Biden administration must take concrete steps to support Israel, our closest ally,” Lawler said in a news release. “This is a direct Iranian attack, after the regime has consistently used its proxies, justifying immediate US action to support any Israeli response.”
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem gestures as she speaks at the Calvin Coolidge Foundation conference at the Library of Congress, February 17, 2023, in Washington, DC. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem wrote that she “hopes” the Biden administration will “hold Iran accountable.”
WHITE HOUSE PROMOTES SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL AMID IRAN ATTACK, PREPARES FOR HOUR-LONG ATTACK
“We stand with the people of Israel against this brazen and callous attack,” Noem wrote in an X post. “Iran hates democracy, freedom and basic human rights, making them enemies of Israel and the United States.”
“I hope the Biden Administration will uphold these shared principles and hold Iran accountable,” he wrote.
Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., wrote that the attacks on Israel were a “direct result” of Biden’s “lack of leadership.”
“Iran just launched drone attacks on innocent Israeli civilians. This is a direct result of Joe Biden’s lack of leadership,” Mast wrote in an X post. “The White House should resolutely support Israel. Instead , have spent months kissing up to the terrorist regime in Tehran to appease a few rowdy, far-left, anti-American lawmakers in Congress.”
President Biden boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on April 12. (Samuel Corum/AFP via Getty Images)
On Friday, Biden was asked how imminent a possible attack on Israel from Tehran is following an Israeli attack on Iran’s consulate in Damascus in Syria.
“I don’t want to go into certain information, but my expectations [is] sooner rather than later,” he responded.
“We are dedicated to the defense of Israel,” he added. “We will support Israel. We will defend, we will help defend israel and Iran will not succeed.”
BIDEN CUT OFF TRIP TO THE BEACH AMID A POTENTIAL IRAN ATTACK ON ISRAEL
Asked what his message to Tehran was, Biden simply said: “Don’t do it.” When asked for more details, he walked away.
Rep. Steny Hoyer, D.M.D., echoed Biden’s statement Friday and said Israel has the “full support” of the United States.
President Biden speaks while in Israel for an Israeli war cabinet meeting in Tel Aviv, October 18, 2023, amid ongoing battles between Israel and Hamas. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)
“Last week, President Biden sent a definitive message to Iran about this pending attack: ‘don’t do it.’ I reiterate what Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made clear to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant last week. “Israel has the full support of the United States in its defense against Iranian aggression,” Hoyer wrote in a press release.
“We support our ally as he exercises his absolute right to defend himself,” he said.
US officials have reaffirmed their country’s “strong” support for Israel and called for a reduction in tension.
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“We are dedicated to the defense of Israel. We will support Israel. We will help defend Israel, and Iran will not succeed,” Biden said Friday.
The Pentagon and the State Department have expressed similar positions.
