Biden welcomes new House Speaker Mike Johnson: ‘We have to get moving’

President Joe Biden welcomed House Republicans electing Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) after more than three weeks without a leader and congressional gridlock.

“We have to get moving,” Biden told reporters Wednesday during his joint U.S.-Australia press conference.

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Biden added he was not concerned that Johnson would try to overturn the 2024 election results after he supported former President Donald Trump‘s election challenge attempts in 2021.

Biden opened the press conference, held as part of his fourth state visit, by commenting on the Israel–Hamas war, advocating a two-state solution, while contending “there’s no going back to the status quo as it stood on Oct. 6.” The president repeated that Israel has the right and responsibility to respond to the terrorist attacks and that Hamas does not represent the “vast majority” of Palestinians. He also expressed alarm at “extremist settlers attacking Palestinians in the West Bank, pouring gasoline on fires.”

“I’m convinced one of the reasons Hamas attacked when they did — I have no proof of this, just my instinct tells me — is because of the progress we were making towards regional integration for Israel,” the president said. “My warning to the ayatollah [of Iran] was that if they continue to move against those [U.S.] troops, we will respond. And he should be prepared. It has nothing to do with Israel.”

Biden additionally criticized China for acting “dangerously and unlawfully” toward Philippine ships in the South China Sea before reiterating his confidence that Congress will pass the legislative components of the Australia-U.S.-United Kingdom nuclear submarine deal, perceived as a deterrent against the Chinese Community Party.

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“The question is not if, but when,” he said.

Biden will host a state dinner Wednesday night in honor of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.