Here’s how Biden appealed to Americans for Israel and Ukraine funding during a primetime address
US President Joe Biden directly appealed to Americans Thursday evening for US support for the wars in Israel and Ukraine during a primetime address from the Oval Office.
- An “inflection point in history”: Biden has often cast this moment in history as an “inflection point” — a battle between the world’s democracies and autocracies. On Thursday, he argued that “this is one of those moments,” making a direct appeal to the American people as he sought to build support for US funding for wars abroad that could face a challenging path in Congress, where the House of Representatives remains unable to pass legislation in its second week without a speaker.
- War comparisons: Biden compared the events this month in Israel to nearly 20 months of war in Ukraine. He accused both Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin of wanting to “completely annihilate a neighboring democracy,” but noted that they “represent different threats.”
- Call for support: The president said that support for both wars in Israel and Ukraine is “vital for America’s national security.” And he warned, more broadly, that US adversaries and competitors “are watching.” He announced he would be submitting an “urgent budget request” for supplemental funding for Israel and Ukraine, among other national security priorities, to Congress on Friday.
- A firm stance against hate: Biden spoke out against Islamophobia and antisemitism, both of which have intensified in recent days, offering comfort and condemnation. Biden acknowledged the fear from Jewish families “worried about being targeted in school, wearing symbols of their faith walking down the street, or going out about their daily life.” And he empathized with Muslim-Americans who are “outraged … saying to yourself, ‘here we go again, with Islamophobia and distrust we saw after 9/11.’” He offered a message of recognition to those impacted: “To all of you hurting, those of you hurting, I want you to know I see you. You belong. I want to say this to you: you’re all American.”
- Israel trip reflection: Biden reflected on his recent trip to Israel, where he met with Israeli officials and reaffirmed support for the country. He said that while there, he “saw people who are strong, determined, resilient and also angry, in shock and in deep, deep pain.”
- Hostage promise: The president also renewed his promise of getting American hostages home to America, saying that “there is no higher priority for me than the safety of Americans held hostage.”
- Two-state solution: He reiterated support for a two-state solution, saying “Israel and Palestinians equally deserve to live in safety, dignity, and peace.”
- Hamas clarification: Biden sought to draw a clear distinction between Hamasand the Palestinian people. He said the militant group “does not represent the Palestinian people” and accused it of using Palestinians “as human shields.” He said he is “heartbroken by the tragic loss of Palestinian life” and added that the US “remains committed to the Palestinian people’s right to dignity and to self-determination.”
