Bernie Sanders fires back at Mike Johnson for his 'siding with terrorists' claim, says Benjamin Netanyahu is 'not someone you honor'

WASHINGTON, DC: Senator Bernie Sanders responded strongly to Speaker Mike Johnson after he suggested that Sanders and other members boycotting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address before Congress are “siding with terrorists.”

Sanders called Johnson's comment "a disgusting lie" and said calling Netanyahu’s outrageous war against Palestine now amounts to being 'sympathetic to terrorism.'

Bernie Sanders calls out Republicans for spreading 'Big Lie' 

Sanders criticized Johnson, accusing the right-wing Republicans of spreading lies repeatedly to sway public opinion, referencing the “Big Lie” that former President Trump won the presidency in 2020.

“I guess, you know, if you are part of the MAGA group — right-wing Republicans — big lies are what you do. You just say lies over and over again, and you hope people believe them, Sanders said, according to The Hill. 

Johnson, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell have invited Netanyahu in a May 31 letter to address Congress.

Sanders, known for his criticism of Netanyahu’s leadership and the conduct of his war against Hamas, reaffirmed his intention to boycott the congressional address.

"You do not honor a foreign leader by addressing a joint session of Congress who is currently engaged in the worst humanitarian disaster in modern history of this country," Sanders said on MSNBC. 

Mike Johnson accuses  Bernie Sanders of  wanting 'to side with the terrorists'

He said Israel has the right to defend itself. "But what it is doing now is going to war against the entire Palestinian people causing starvation, famine destruction and death," he said.

"The architect of that policy is not somebody you honor by bringing to the United States Congress," Bernie added. 

During the interview, Bernie was shown a clip from a press conference on Tuesday, June 4, where Johnson directly called out Sanders.

“This is a time to choose a side. If Bernie Sanders wants to side with the terrorists, then so be it," Johnson declared. 

"And if other Democrats want to do that, it’s on them. But I’m telling you, I pray and hope and expect that most of the members of the House of both parties and the Senate will join us for this historic address," Johnson added. 

Mike Johnson is doing what right-wing people always do, says Bernie Sanders

In his response, Sanders firmly reiterated his condemnation of Hamas while attacking Johnson for spreading "disgusting lies." 

“As I have said from literally day one of this terrible war, what Hamas did is atrocious. Sinwar, the leader of Hamas, is a war criminal. He should be in jail. And Israel had every right in the world to defend itself against Hamas,” Sanders said.

“But what Johnson is doing is what right-wing people always do,” Sanders continued, adding "Back in the day, if you stood up for civil rights or social justice, they called you a communist."

"If you are prepared to take on Netanyahu’s outrageous war against the Palestinian people, I suppose now they claim that you’re sympathetic to terrorism. It is a lie. And I really am not happy with what he is saying," Sanders added.