WATCH VIDEO: Speaker Johnson honors assassinated Israeli embassy employees by hosting Hanan Lischinsky at State of the Union

WASHINGTON, DC — Mike Johnson is a mensch.

That’s Yiddish for a person of integrity and honor.

We live in dark and dangerous times.

That’s why I’m grateful for Speaker Johnson.

He’s showing tremendous moral courage and consistency in fighting against the ugly scourge of Jew hatred, as well as standing boldly and unashamedly for an ever-stronger U.S.-Israel alliance.

Antisemitic attacks have exploded in the U.S., up 360% over the past year.

Social media influencers like Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, Nick Fuentes, and others are viciously assaulting Israel, Jewish people, and Christians who have a biblical love for both.

Fortunately, the U.S. House Speaker is a devout Evangelical Christian from the Deep South.

The Louisiana native has a deep and abiding love for the nation of Israel and for the Jewish people, based on his love for the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, as well as America’s historically strong ties to Israel because of our shared values and national security interests.

That doesn’t mean Speaker Johnson necessarily had the time or interest to reach out to the families of two Israeli embassy employees who were gunned down and brutally murdered in Washington, D.C., last May and invite them to be his guests at this year’s State of the Union address.

But that’s exactly what he did – and God bless him for it.

WHAT DID WE SEE THAT EVENING INSIDE THE HALLS OF POWER?

The still-grieving parents of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim were not able to attend.

But Yaron’s older brother – Hanan – was able to attend and represent the families.

Hanan Lischinsky is a strong and devout Israeli follower of Jesus.

He’s also an impressive and experienced journalist who works for ALL ISRAEL NEWS.

I had already invited Hanan to join me at – and to cover – the Judeo-Christian Zionist Congress and the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) convention in Nashville last week.

So, by God’s grace, Hanan was already in the States and was able to accept the Speaker’s invitation.

Together, he and I attended the lovely 90-minute reception held in the Speaker’s chambers in the U.S. Capitol, accompanied by a defense fellow who works for the Speaker.

We met with Speaker Johnson and were each able to thank him for his heart in honoring the Lischinsky and Milgrim families, for fighting antisemitism, and for championing the closest possible alliance between the United States and Israel.

We also met with other Members of Congress, prominent Evangelical leaders, and others to talk about our own perspectives on the state of the American economy, society, and Church, and the direction of U.S.-Israeli relations and the possibility of war with Iran.

PRAYING WITH A CABINET SECRETARY

One of the most special moments on Tuesday evening was meeting with Scott Turner, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

Turner is a devout Evangelical, a former NFL player, and a pastor based in Dallas.

He’s also spearheading the President’s initiative to mobilize millions of Americans to pray daily for revival as we approach the country’s 250th birthday this summer.

I met Turner when he was a pastor at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Dallas, well before his appointment as a Cabinet secretary.

We don’t know each other well, but it was great to see him and introduce him to Hanan.

The Secretary was familiar with the story of Yaron and Sarah and had been deeply grieved by their murders.

I was blessed to see him and Hanan have the opportunity to get to know each other – and blessed when we took time to bow our hearts to pray together for these precious families, for an end to such hatred and violence in America, for the Lord to grant wisdom and grace to President Trump, and for the peace of Jerusalem.

Shortly after we prayed together, Secretary Turner gathered with all the Cabinet members who attended the speech to pray with and for the President.

REFLECTIONS ON AN EXTRAORDINARY AND HISTORIC EVENING

Then the time came for Hanan and me to be seated in the House gallery to watch the President deliver the State of the Union address in person.

Among others, we got to meet and chat with the four astronauts – three Americans and one Canadian – who will soon board a rocket and, Lord willing, make the first successful trip to the moon since the early 1970s.

The following day, I interviewed Hanan outside the Capitol to get his thoughts and reflections on an extraordinary and historic evening and what it was like for an Israeli citizen to meet with and observe the most powerful and influential leaders in the world.

I hope you’ll take the time to watch our conversation in full.