Optics are important in politics — and President Biden has had his share of gaffes.
Biden’s handlers cringed when he looked at his watch as fallen soldiers returned from Afghanistan, when he seemingly fell asleep at a memorial service in Lahaina honoring the hundreds lost in wildfires, and when he appeared to be lost after multiple speeches.
Biden faced backlash again after moving forward with plans to host a barbeque on Sunday afternoon as the only democratic nation in the Middle East was being bombarded with more than 5,000 missiles from the terrorist group Hamas.
Nine Americans have been reported killed in the attack.
The Daily Caller reported the barbeque was hosted at the Executive Mansion by President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. The appreciation luncheon was for staff and their families.
Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) blasted the president, saying, “While Hamas holds Americans hostage, Joe Biden is enjoying a picnic with a live band.”
Later in the day, the president pledged support to Israel and made a brief statement condemning Hamas and the attack on Israel.
The president elected not to take any questions from reporters, a decision that infuriated Stephen Miller, contributing editor for the Spectator. Miller wrote on X that he had “never seen anything like this.”
This is … infuriating. … Americans are dead and being held hostage. Biden went to a BBK and Blinken is begging Turkey to tell Israel to stand down.”
Approximately 1,000 have been killed in Israel — most are citizens. According to one report, citizens from the following countries have been caught up in the attack:
- USA – 9 dead.
- Canada – 1 dead, 2 missing.
- Great Britain – more than 10 dead or missing.
- France – one dead, several missing.
- Thailand – 12 dead, 11 missing.
- Nepal – 10 dead.
- Germany – number of unconfirmed/missing deaths.
- Russia – 1 dead.
- Cambodia – one dead.
- China – number of deaths/casualties not confirmed.
- Brazil – 3 injured.
- Paraguay – 2 dead/missing.
- Ukraine – 2 dead.
- Mexico – 2 prisoners.
- Ireland – 1 injured.
- Tanzania – 2 injured.
America has pledged $8 billion in emergency aid to Israel and sent a naval carrier strike group to the area.
While grateful for authorizing the support package to Israel, many government officials have expressed their disbelief that the president would move forward with his Sunday barbeque plans.
Republican Florida Rep. Byron Donalds posted on X:
“Israel is under attack, Americans are being held hostage by Islamic-Nazi murders, the Middle East is unraveling & JOE BIDEN hosted a BBQ at the White House.”
Donalds added: “This is the same man who left Americans behind in Afghanistan & was tracking time when our dead heroes returned home.”
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