US President Joe Biden has reportedly expressed his dissatisfaction with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s refusal to end the war in the Gaza Strip, privately referring to Netanyahu as a “bad guy,” according to a report by Politico. The report also mentions that sources close to Biden have revealed that the President deeply distrusts Netanyahu and fears that he may be attempting to drag the US into a major conflict in the Middle East.
The President’s spokesperson, Andrew Bates, has denied these claims, stating that Biden “has not said that, nor would he say it,” and emphasizing the respectful relationship between the two leaders both in public and private.
The report also highlights the increasing contempt for Netanyahu among US lawmakers, including pro-Israel Democrats. A House Democrat shared that during a recent dinner with colleagues, there was unanimous agreement that the war between Israel and Gaza must end immediately, and that Biden should confront Netanyahu on the issue.
The sentiment was echoed by another legislator who emphasized the political disaster of the situation, stating, “Bibi [Netanyahu] is toxic among many Democratic voters and Biden must distance himself from him… yesterday.”
In addition to the comments about Netanyahu, the report revealed that Biden has previously made derogatory remarks about his predecessor, Donald Trump. Despite his public image as a unifier, Biden reportedly called Trump a “sick bastard” and criticized his character behind closed doors.
These reports shed light on the private conversations and concerns of the Biden administration, as the President navigates complex foreign policy issues and confronts challenges within his own party.