President Biden on hot mic says he needs a 'come to Jesus' meeting with Netanyahu
WASHINGTON ― President Joe Biden was captured on a hot mic following Thursday night's State of the Union address saying he's going to need a "come to Jesus meeting" with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The remark ? picked up by a microphone during a conversation with U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo. ? underscores Biden's growing frustration with Netanyahu amid Israel's war against Hamas as the U.S. works to get more humanitarian aid into Gaza.
As Biden stayed in the Capitol to talk to supporters after his address, Bennett told Biden "great speech" during a brief conversation before urging the president to "keep pushing" for humanitarian aid into Gaza.
"I told him, Bibi, and don't repeat this, 'But you and I are going to have a ‘come to Jesus’ meeting,'" Biden said, referring to Netanyahu.
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A White House aide then came to Biden's side and appeared to tell him that he's still mic'd up.
“I’m on a hot mic here. Good. That’s good," Biden said.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken was standing next to Biden during the conversation.
“You guys eavesdropping on things,” Biden told reporters Friday when about the hot mic remarks before boarding Air Force One on way to Philadelphia.
The Biden administration has become increasingly at odds with Netanyahu over Israel's refusal to scale back the war in Gaza and its efforts to get humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians. Biden has faced increasing pressure from progressives and Arab-Americans for his unwavering support of Israel in the months since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel.
During his State of the Union speech, Biden put Israel on notice, saying it must "do its part" to get food and other aid into Gaza, adding that it "cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip." His warning came as Biden announced the U.S. military will launch an emergency mission to build a port on the Gaza coast along the Mediterranean Sea to transport aid into Gaza.
Biden also called it a "fundamental responsibility" for Israel to protect innocent civilians in Gaza.
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Netanyahu has refused Biden's demand for a two-state solution to the Middle East crisis and has pledged to continue the war in Gaza until Hamas is crushed.
This week, top White House officials including Vice President Kamala Harris met with Benny Gantz, a member of Israel’s wartime Cabinet and centrist political rival of Netanyahu, who did not authorize Gantz's trip to Washington.
The Biden administration's efforts to secure a six-week pause in Israel's war against Hamas that would include the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza has stalled, lacking support from Hamas.
Reach Joey Garrison on X, formerly Twitter, @joeygarrison.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden hot mic moment underscores growing frustration with Netanyahu