The White House invited Mr. Johnson to a briefing on the president’s supplemental national security funding package sent to Congress.
Newly-elected House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) met with President Joe Biden at the White House on Thursday.
The meeting followed a bipartisan briefing focusing on the administration’s request to Congress for increased funding for national security.
Speaking to reporters following the meeting, Mr. Johnson described the meeting, which is the first in his new role as House speaker, as “productive.”
“I enjoyed my visit with the president,” he said.
Earlier in the day, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre informed the press that Mr. Johnson had been invited to partake in a “bipartisan briefing with leadership and relevant committee chairs and ranking members.”
Mr. Johnson was elected to the position of House speaker on Wednesday, taking the helm three weeks after the ousting of Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from the position.
In the wake of his election, President Biden congratulated Mr. Johnson and expressed his commitment to work with the new speaker “in good faith.”
Despite their differences on critical issues, the president stressed the importance of mutual efforts to identify common ground.
The meeting took place in the Situation Room, where President Biden also met with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) ahead of the briefing, according to a White House official.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young, and White House Legislative Affairs Director Shuwanza Goff led the briefing.
The primary focus of the briefing was the president’s national security supplemental funding package sent to Congress.
The White House has recently submitted two funding requests to Congress.
On Wednesday, one request sought $56 billion in additional domestic funding, including allocations for disaster relief, child care, internet access for low-income households, national security, energy assistance, addressing the opioid epidemic, and food assistance programs.
President Biden has also requested nearly $106 billion in aid for Ukraine and Israel, alongside other national security issues, in a separate request last week.
Mr. Johnson has expressed little enthusiasm for allocating additional funds from Congress to support Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.
By Caden Pearson
