With President Biden out of public view for the second day in a row following terrorist atrocities in Israel, a White House spokesman chose to catch up with Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel on Monday after she discussed how the 2024 GOP nominee would respond to the war in Israel.
McDaniel had suggested over the weekend that the GOP candidate had a “huge opportunity” to show leadership on foreign policy after a Hamas attack led to the slaughter of more than 1,000 people – including at least nine US citizens.
“While it seems that some individuals like Ronna McDaniel see this loss of life and pain as a ‘great opportunity,’ most Americans see it as a terrible tragedy,” White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said.
Bates added: “No one should condone this appalling behavior or try to divide our country when we should be united.”
RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said the 2024 candidates have a “huge opportunity” to flex their foreign policy muscles after the Hamas attacks.Fox News
As of midday Monday, Biden had made no comment — on camera or otherwise — about the loss of American lives in the attack or reports that Americans were among those held hostage by Hamas terrorists.
McDaniel’s statement Saturday came after Fox News aired a package showing the 2024 Republican contender criticizing Biden’s Middle East policy.
“I think this is a great opportunity for our candidate to contrast where the Republicans have stood with Israel, time and time again, and Joe Biden has been weak,” McDaniel said.
“And when America is weak, the world becomes less safe. We are seeing this not only with the war in Ukraine and with the emboldened China, but now with the attack on Israel.”
The RNC accused liberal critics on Monday of twisting McDaniel’s comments.
“The RNC and Chairman McDaniel have long been fierce advocates for Israel, its people, and condemned the attack immediately,” spokeswoman Emma Vaughn told The Post.
Fire and smoke billow during an Israeli attack on Gaza.REUTERS Smoke billows over Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike.AFP via Getty Images
“It is despicable that the media is twisting Chairman McDaniel’s words and giving cover to Democrats who have repeatedly attacked Israel’s right to exist.”
On Saturday, the Palestinian terror group Hamas launched a widespread attack on the Jewish state, apparently catching defense and intelligence officials off guard.
At least 1,000 Israelis have died in the massacre, with the State Department confirming that at least nine Americans were also among the dead.
President Biden has insisted that he stands by Israel as it responds to terrorists.Getty Images
Hamas has also taken at least 100 hostages to the Gaza Strip, and Americans are believed to be among those as well.
Biden has not appeared in public since Saturday afternoon, when he gave a three-minute on-camera statement condemning the terrorist attacks and reaffirming US support for Israel.
“As President Biden said in his call with Prime Minister Netanyahu on the morning of this horrific terrorist attack, the United States’ support for Israel as it defends itself is ‘strong and unwavering,'” Bates said.
Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates took aim at Ronna McDaniel for her comments about the politics of war in Israel. AFP via Getty Images
McDaniel, like many Republicans, blasted the White House for agreeing to liquidate $6 billion in Iranian oil assets last month as part of a prisoner exchange.
“Don’t forget that on 9/11 — less than a month ago, when Joe Biden refused to go to any 9/11 site — that he announced that he was giving $6 billion to Iran,” McDaniel said Saturday.
White House officials have insisted that Iran has yet to receive the money, which is intended for humanitarian purposes only.
Iran is a supporter of Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist groups in the region that have moved against Israel.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
