Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., told Newsmax Wednesday that newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson will help "block" foreign aggression, despite President Joe Biden's administration being undermined on the world stage.
"I do believe that this administration has been undermined on the world stage. And with everything happening in Washington, I think that our adversaries took advantage of that," Luna said during an appearance on "Eric Bolling The Balance."
"But as you heard today in Representative — and now Speaker — Johnson's speech, he is back. And he is going to ensure that the world understands that we're not going to be backing down, that you cannot treat the United States like that.
"And so, frankly, I think that we are going to be doing a lot of blocking on behalf of the American people because this administration simply isn't doing it.”
Johnson, 51, is a Republican from Louisiana who won the speakership in a 220-209 vote, defeating House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., Wednesday afternoon.
Luna said the Biden administration is doing little after American troops and assets in Syria and Iraq were attacked more than a dozen times in the past week or so, possibly by Iran, and that House Republicans are now moving to act with the speaker in place.
"Here in Washington, we actually did start to hear about [the attacks] last week. I think the media has been really running a lot of cover for this administration," she said. "Rep. [Matt] Gaetz [R-Fla.] and a few other members actually sponsored a resolution to withdraw our troops from Syria."
Luna said that fellow Republican Rep. Cory Mills of Florida has done more than the administration to get Americans out of Israel since the terrorist organization Hamas launched a surprise attack on Oct. 7 that killed more than 1,400 Israelis and others, including 30 Americans, and kidnapped some 200 more as hostages.
“If I was in [Biden's] position, I'd be sending out every hostage rescue team we can to ensure that our Americans are being brought home. And, frankly, this would not have happened under [former] President [Donald] Trump," she said.
"You have this administration essentially funding both sides of what's happening in Israel right there, calling for an aid package to go to Gaza when we know that over 50% of Palestinians are supporting what Hamas is doing."
Luna said that Hamas and the Lebanese terrorist organization Hezbollah want to see the destruction of Israel.
"It means that they are essentially looking at basically destroying Israel and the elimination of the West," she said. "What a lot of people don't understand is that these radicalized ideologies don't support the United States. They don't even support our culture.
"And so it's ironic to me when you see the very radicalized progressive left embrace — and, I think, throw their support behind — Hamas and some of these movements because, frankly, if it were up to these people, they would not exist."
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Charles Kim ✉
Charles Kim, a Newsmax general assignment writer, is an award-winning journalist with more than 30 years in reporting on news and politics.
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