Staff Reports
President Biden managed to stay upright during his recent meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, which is a refreshing change from his previous encounters where he appeared to doze off, lose his train of thought, or even trip over his own words. The meeting at the White House focused on the Gaza war, the ongoing tensions with Lebanon, and the dire situation of hostages held by Hamas. This time, instead of showcasing his questionable reflexes, the struggling leader managed to hold his ground and converse—though that might not exactly qualify as an Olympic sport.
Herzog praised the meeting as “very productive,” a phrase often used to describe events that do little more than fill up a schedule. The Israeli president expressed his confidence in Biden’s pledge to support Israel’s security, especially with the clock ticking towards January 20, 2025, when Biden’s term wraps up. Perhaps Herzog was simply glad that Biden didn’t confuse him with one of the many foreign leaders he tends to forget—remember, there’s a long list of befuddled world leaders who’ve witnessed Biden’s baffling gaffes.
Why is Biden attacking the media—and an Israeli reporter, no less? He snapped, asking: “Think you can keep from getting hit in the head by a camera behind you?” pic.twitter.com/HpwfqLh3oN
— Pat Gray Unleashed (@PatUnleashed) November 13, 2024
While Herzog brought a thoughtful gift from the Temple Mount to the meeting, it was clear that the real prize was Biden managing not to have a senior moment. The discussions revolved around the hostages still in the grips of Hamas, a situation that reveals the administration’s somewhat naive approach. After all, relying on terrorists for goodwill is like trusting a fox to guard the henhouse; it’s a gamble that rarely pays off. Meanwhile, Israel’s patience is running thin, as they tend to ignore the president’s bathroom-wall-style advice on how to conduct military operations.
In a display of considerable frustration, Biden clashed with the press over a journalist’s query about securing a hostage deal before his exit. His response? A confused jab about the camera behind the reporter, almost as if he was trying out for a part in a slapstick comedy. The awkward moment was a reminder that even simple questions can lead to Biden’s less-than-stellar responses. One can only imagine how differently this exchange would have been perceived had it come from Trump; the media would have launched a full-blown frenzy.
As the Biden administration tries to navigate this geopolitical minefield, many can’t help but wonder how the U.S. leader stacks up against his predecessors. In the world of global diplomacy, Biden is starting to appear weaker than those infamous presidents nobody really remembers, like Franklin Pierce. The soaring metaphorical electric chair awaiting Trump for such feigned missteps stands in stark contrast to how the media has treated Biden’s verbal fumbles. The stakes are high and the clock is ticking—leaving the impression that perhaps not napping, but rather learning to engage meaningfully with allies, might have been the better outcome for this meeting.
