There is growing anticipation surrounding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's upcoming address before Congress. Unfortunately, not everyone is anticipating it in a positive fashion. Rumors of potential protests on the floor during the address have been swirling while others (almost entirely Democrats) have threatened to boycott the address. Assuming he's serious, Speaker Mike Johnson is having none of it. Speaking at an event on Thursday evening, the Speaker said that plans were being put in place to deal with potential disruptions. Robert McCoy at The New Republic described what Johnson said next as "a wild threat." Johnson said he would be stationing extra sergeants at arms on the floor. If people "get out of hand," he said he will bang the gavel and they will arrest people if they have to.

At a pro-Israel event in Milwaukee on Thursday, House Speaker Mike Johnson described his plans to target Democratic lawmakers who protest Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s upcoming speech to Congress.

“There’s a number of Democrats in the House who have said they are going to boycott the event, and then some others are gonna protest,” said Johnson. “We’re gonna have extra sergeants at arms on the floor, and if anybody gets out of hand the Speaker of the House will bang the gavel. We’re gonna arrest people if we have to do it. We’re gonna get the message out.”

According to PBS, Johnson was the one to initially lead the charge to invite Netanyahu, after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the Israeli leader as “an obstacle to peace” due to his handling of the war on Gaza.

It's a rare day when I agree with much that shows up in The New Republic, but I have to admit that Speaker Johnson may have walked himself out on a limb here. There is an immediate problem with the idea of having any of the members arrested during the speech and it's found in the Constitution. The members are "privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place." The only exceptions to that rule are in cases of "Treason, Felony, and Breach of the Peace."

Complaining about Netanyahu's presence or his policies, even if done so rudely and in a disruptive fashion, would still fall under the broad category of speech. People shout out rudely during sessions regularly and it's never been treated as treason or a felony. Even if Johnson could convince the sergeant at arms to actually arrest someone, it sounds like he would be opening up a massive can of worms that he probably won't want anything to do with.

It's really just a pity that the situation has been allowed to reach a state so close to the boiling point. This has never traditionally been how we expect the legislature to operate. When a foreign leader shows up to give an address - particularly the leader of our closest ally in the Middle East - they should sit politely and listen at a minimum. Nobody is forcing them to applaud if they don't feel inclined. If any of them want to boycott the address, that's fine too. Nobody is forcing them to attend at gunpoint.

Sadly, we now live in the era of The Squad (which is where I expect the most likely trouble to arise) and they treat their offices like some sort of reality television series. They have fully signed on with the pro-Hamas wing of their party, and some of them will likely see the chance to yell at and interrupt Netanyahu as an opportunity to score points with the base instead of a disgraceful violation of the basic rules of etiquette on the floor of the House. 

Even Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has ruffled Netanyahu's feathers in the past, criticizing his handling of the war against Hamas and calling for new elections in Israel. But after all these years, if I had to make a prediction, I think Schumer will remain silent and allow the Israeli Prime Minister to speak. He might even offer a bit of applause, if only halfheartedly. But the Squad members are another matter entirely. I sincerely hope that I'm wrong, but I won't be the least bit surprised if they unfurl a pro-Hamas banner in the middle of Bibi's speech and start accusing him of genocide. If so, it will be another sad day on the floor of our own legislature.