His favorability is decreasing rapidly.
President Biden’s administration has drawn strong criticism from within the Democratic Party for bypassing Congress twice to provide aid to Israel. Representative Ilhan Omar, known for her firm stance within the party, condemned the decision as morally indefensible. She highlighted the contradiction in supplying weapons while urging Israel to cease civilian casualties and ethnic cleansing, echoing concerns from humanitarian groups about specific munitions being used in ways that violate both U.S. and international laws.
Senator Tim Kaine, a key Biden ally and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, emphasized Congress’s pivotal role in matters of war and peace. Kaine stressed the necessity for transparent oversight regarding weapon transfers to other nations, expressing concerns that bypassing Congress leads to a lack of public information. He called for a detailed explanation behind these decisions, especially as this marks the second instance in a month.
Cori Bush, aligned with Omar in the progressive House “Squad,” accused the White House of contradictory actions. She criticized the administration for urging Israel to uphold international law while simultaneously bypassing Congress to provide weapons that might contribute to violations of these very laws. Bush questioned the Biden administration on the threshold of innocent lives lost before calling for a ceasefire, highlighting the apparent inconsistency.
Similarly, Representative Lloyd Doggett from Texas voiced concern over the Biden administration’s actions. Doggett pointed out the contradiction in advocating for fewer deaths in Gaza while supplying arms to Netanyahu, potentially escalating the conflict. He highlighted the disregard for pleas from Israeli hostage families amid these decisions.
The State Department’s recent announcement disclosed Secretary Antony Blinken’s emergency determination to bypass Congress for an emergency arms sale totaling $147.5 billion to Israel, following a similar decision made earlier in December. These actions have heightened criticism within the Democratic Party, emphasizing the complexities surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict and the consequences of these arms supply choices.
