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President Biden on Monday did not address the deaths of at least nine American citizens among the 900 Israelis slaughtered when Hamas militants attacked Israel on Saturday.
Mr. Biden hasn’t made any public appearances since Saturday when he delivered a roughly three-minute speech on the situation without taking questions. He had no public events on Sunday or Monday but did host a private barbecue at the White House on Sunday afternoon.
On Monday, authorities confirmed that at least nine Americans were among the growing number of dead in Israel.
With the federal government closed Monday for the Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples’ Day holiday, there are no White House events scheduled.
The White House called a “lid” Monday before noon, meaning Mr. Biden won’t be seen or heard from for the rest of the day. A lid is a notice to reporters covering the White House that the president won’t make any more news that day.
Mr. Biden did meet Monday morning with his national security team, including Secretary of State Tony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, according to the White House. In the afternoon, Mr. Biden is expected to speak with close allies about the latest developments in Israel, the White House said.
The lack of public statements or appearances sparked fierce criticism of the president, including accusations that he was hiding during a crisis.
“Joe Biden is, once again, missing in action,” the Republican National Committee’s research arm posted on Twitter. “It’s another massive foreign policy blunder — whose incompetence is second only to his arrogance.”
“Biden has ‘called a lid’ for the rest of the day, meaning no public or press events. This is a disgusting disgrace. And, yet, again, our enemies around the world take notice,” conservative commentator Mark Levin wrote on X.
Another conservative, Katie Pavlich, pointed to reports of Americans also being held hostage by Hamas.
“After hosting a party last night at the White House while Americans remain held hostage by Hamas, Biden has called a lid at 11:51 am. He’s MIA,” she wrote on X.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.
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