President Joe Biden allegedly called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a "bad f*****g guy" in private conversations, a column on the Politico news site claimed on Sunday.
In an article published by The Jerusalem Post, White House spokesperson Andrew Bates denied that Biden had referred to Netanyahu in such a way, saying "The president did not say that, nor would he," and stressing that the two leaders have "a decades-long relationship that is respectful in public and in private."
Biden and Netanyahu have had a difficult relationship this past year due to disagreements about the government's judicial reform, actions of far-right members, and plans for Gaza. Biden urged Netanyahu to "walk away" from the judicial reform plan in 2023 due to the massive protests, however, Netanyahu responded that he would not make decisions based on "pressures from abroad."
Politico Columnist Jonathan Martin attributed the president's latest four-letter outburst to people who've spoken to the president.
Why Is This?
In a column describing Biden's support for Israel in the Gaza war and the cost of losing younger voters, Politico reported the president is "deeply suspicious" of Netanyahu and fears the Israeli leader wants to coax the U.S. into a larger Middle East war that drags more American weapons into the fray - and even American troops.
Politico stated that very few in the Biden administration sense the danger more than Vice President Kamala Harris. From holiday parties to dinner at her residence last month for a group of prominent Black men, Harris has been telling sympathetic Democrats outside the White House that she recognizes the political challenge posed by Biden's unwavering public support for Israel, I'm told by officials familiar with her comments at the events. Harris told people she's making the case privately for the administration to show more empathy for the plight of innocent Gazans.
Biden's backing of Israel's prolonged counter-offensive after Hamas militants' Oct. 7 attack on the country is also diminishing his support among Arab and Muslim Americans.
Speaking with Politico, one house democrat told the publication of a dinner last month with about eight other colleagues, a cross-section of the caucus ideologically and generationally. "It was unanimous that this Israel-Gaza war needed to end now and that Biden needed to stand up to Bibi," this lawmaker told me, before offering his own view.
"This is a disaster politically," said this House Democrat, who rarely criticizes Israel. "The base is really pissed - and it's not just the leftists. I have never seen such a depth of anguish as I've seen over this Gaza issue. Bibi is toxic among many Democratic voters and Biden must distance himself from him - yesterday."
