From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, July 3, 2024
White House cites praise of Biden from Netanyahu to deflect question about president’s ability to serve
Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre quotes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s praising US President Joe Biden as she tries to fend off questions from reporters during the daily press briefing regarding the president’s ability to remain in office after last week’s poor debate performance.
Netanyahu was asked during a February interview with ABC News about Biden’s mental capacity after a special counsel issued a report stating that Biden suffered from memory loss.
“I have had more than a dozen extended phone conversations with President Biden. He also came on a visit to Israel during wartime, which is an historic first. I’ve found him very clear and very focused,” Netanyahu responded.
Jean-Pierre read out that response along with a statement given by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to assert the president’s ability to do the job well.
When the White House quotes Benjamin Netanyahu in defense of President Biden… pic.twitter.com/Eo1rb3lqyI
— Jacob N. Kornbluh (@jacobkornbluh) July 3, 2024
