US President Joe Biden is in hot water after reports of the White House hosting a weekend barbecue while Israel was under attack surfaced.
Fox News Digital reported that Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) was one of the first members of the Republican Party to criticize the party that happened near the Rose Garden.
"While Hamas holds Americans hostage, Joe Biden is enjoying a picnic with a live band," he tweeted while posting a screenshot of a White House Pool report.
The pool report noted that a reporter could hear a "live band" in the White House at around 18:00 Sunday evening (October 8, 22:00 UTC).
"In the late afternoon and early evening, a live band could be heard coming from the area near the Rose Garden. Your pooler asked why a band was playing. From the White House: The President and First Lady are hosting a BBQ for White House Executive Residence Staff and their families," the pool report wrote.
While Hamas holds Americans hostage, Joe Biden is enjoying a picnic with a live band pic.twitter.com/0xqRDwyuoR
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) October 8, 2023
Criticism Against White House BBQ Party
Conservatives and other Biden administration critics have also chimed in on Hawley's revelation.
"As the expression goes, Nero fiddled while Rome burned," Steve Guest said, adding that it was history repeating itself.
"[I am] angry and concerned about [Biden's] priorities here," A certain Ximena added.
Former Virginia Representative Scott Taylor (R) also suggested that the White House should have canceled the barbecue party in solidarity with the families of Americans allegedly being held hostage in Gaza.
"This weekend, several Americans were killed in Israel and several more are still being held hostage by Hamas," political commentator and podcast host Benny Johnson was quoted by Newsweek. "Today, Joe Biden called a lid at 11:34 a.m. and is having a barbecue."
Conservative activist and commentator CJ Pearson added that Biden's actions last Sunday could be added to a planned impeachment by several members of Congress.
The party happened as Hamas was attacking Israel exactly 50 years after the Yom Kippur War in 1973.
The White House has not immediately responded to reporters' requests for comment.
