Johnson aims to invite Netanyahu to address Congress

House Speaker Mike Johnson on Thursday said he’ll ask Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to speak before Congress.

“I would love to have him come and address a joint session of Congress. We’ll certainly extend that invitation,” Mr. Johnson said on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.”

This comes after Mr. Netanyahu spoke virtually with Senate Republicans during lunch Wednesday. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer denied the offer for fellow Democrats.

Mr. Johnson, Louisiana Republican, also said he has been invited by Mr. Netanyahu to speak at the Knesset in Jerusalem, and they’re “just trying to work out schedules on all this.”

It’s unclear whether Mr. Netanyahu would be invited to address both chambers of Congress. Mr. Schumer would need to agree to have the Israeli leader address a joint session, but lately, the New York Democrat has blistered Mr. Netanyahu.

Mr. Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in the country, last week called for new Israeli elections and the ouster of Mr. Netanyahu over how he has handled the war with Hamas.

“Well, I guess we’ll find out,” Mr. Johnson said on whether Mr. Schumer would allow a joint session. “I mean, look, I’m the one that extends the invitations to speak in the House, and if we just have the House, that’s fine too.”

He added, “I think a big majority of that Senate would want to come and stand in support of Netanyahu and Israel.”

A spokesman for Mr. Schumer said Mr. Johnson hadn’t discussed the invitation with him.

“Israel has no stronger ally than the United States, and our relationship transcends any one president or any one prime minister. I will always welcome the opportunity for the prime minister of Israel to speak to Congress in a bipartisan way,” Mr. Schumer said in a statement.

The invitation comes as Congress struggles with passing aid to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan.