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President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris met separately with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Thursday. Biden hosted Netanyahu in the Oval Office for a bilateral meeting, with the two leaders meeting with families of American hostages held hostage in Gaza later in the White House Cabinet Room.  The meeting was the first time the two world leaders have met in person since Biden visited Israel shortly after Hamas’ terrorist attack on Oct. 7, 2023.

Netanyahu thanked Biden for his 50 years of public service and his support of the state of Israel during a press conference at the Oval Office before the meeting: “Mr. President, we’ve known each other for 40 years and you’ve known every Israeli prime minister for 50 years from Golda Meir. So from a proud Jewish Zionist, to a proud Irish American Zionist, I want to thank you for 50 years of public service and 50 years of support for the State of Israel.”

Harris later spoke with Netanyahu in the vice president’s ceremonial office in a high-stakes meeting since news broke that Harris is hoping to secure the Democratic nomination for the 2024 election, following Biden’s decision to withdraw from the race.

A senior administration official told reporters Wednesday that Biden planned to discuss his “ironclad commitment to Israel’s security, the very serious threats from Iran and from Iranian proxy and terrorist groups, including Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis,” adding that the men are also expected to speak “in depth” about developments in Gaza, including efforts to reach a cease-fire agreement and the humanitarian crisis. The administration believes that a deal “is in the closing stages and it’s reaching a point that we believe a deal is closable, and it’s time to move to close that agreement.”

Netanyahu is also scheduled to meet with former President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Friday.

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Per Reuters, Vice President Kamala Harris joined Democratic and Republican leaders in condemning protesters who burned American flags and sprayed pro-Hamas graffiti outside Washington’s Union Station on Wednesday. The protests coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress on Wednesday,

The Vice President said in a statement issued from her office: “I condemn any individuals associating with the brutal terrorist organization Hamas, which has vowed to annihilate the State of Israel and kill Jews. Pro-Hamas graffiti and rhetoric is abhorrent and we must not tolerate it in our nation. I condemn the burning of the American flag. That flag is a symbol of our highest ideals as a nation and represents the promise of America. It should never be desecrated in that way .. I support the right to peacefully protest, but let’s be clear: Antisemitism, hate and violence of any kind have no place in our nation.” 

Protesters marched near the U.S. Capitol building, condemning U.S. military aid to Israel during its war with Hamas militants in Gaza. Following Netanyahu’s speech, some of the demonstrators gathered in front of Union Station hoisting Palestinian flags outside the train station as they burned American flags and spray painted the words “Hamas is coming” and “Free Gaza” on a large monument. One American flag was set ablaze under an effigy of Netanyahu. Police used pepper spray on some of the thousands of demonstrators present, with U.S. Park Police sharing in a statement that at least eight people were arrested outside the train station after failing to disperse Wednesday afternoon. The crowd, police said, “damaged and destroyed park property, including vandalizing statues and fountains, tearing down and burning flags, and starting several small fires.”

The actions of the protesters outside Union Station also drew strong criticism from Republican U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson and Hakeem Jeffries, the chamber’s Democratic leader. Harris is now the likely Democratic nominee for president after President Biden dropped his reelection bid.

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President Joe Biden addressed the nation on Wednesday for the first time since his decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race.

Delivering remarks from the Oval Office, Biden said that his decision to step aside from the 2024 presidential race was a matter of saving democracy. Said Biden: “I revere this office. But I love my country more .. It’s been the honor of my life to serve as your president. But the defense of democracy is more important than any title. I draw strength, and find joy, in working FOR the American people. This sacred task of perfecting our Union is not about me. It’s about you. Your families. Your futures. It’s about ‘We the People.’ The great thing about America is here, kings and dictators do not rule. The people do. History is in your hands. The power is in your hands. The idea of America – lies in your hands.”

Biden withdrew from the president race on Sunday, after a month of intense pressure from Democrats to change course after his poor debate performance, which raised conerns about his age and whether he could successfully defeat former President Donald Trump in November. Biden said on Wednesday: “Over the next six months I will be focused on doing my job as President. That means I will continue to lower costs for hard-working families and grow our economy. I will keep defending our personal freedoms and our civil rights – from the right to vote – to the right to choose.”

In the rare Oval Office address, Mr. Biden also reiterated his endorsement for Vice President Kamala Harris to secure the Democratic nomination. Said Biden: “In just a few months, the American people will choose the course of America’s future. I made my choice. I’ve made my views known. I would like to thank our great vice president, Kamala Harris. She’s experienced, she’s tough, she’s capable. She’s been an incredible partner to me, and a leader for our country. Now the choice is up to you, the American people.”

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to a joint meeting of Congress on Wednesday, urging American leaders to provide more bipartisan support to Israel amid its ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza. Netanyahu was invited to speak primarily by House Speaker Mike Johnson, who has been severely critical of President Joe Biden’s response to the war.

Netanyahu was defiant in his remarks before Congress as he seeked support, all while criticizing those who have protested the conflict.  Said Netanyahu: “We meet today at a crossroads of history. Our world is in upheaval. In the Middle East, Iran’s axis of terror confronts America, Israel and our Arab friends. This is not a clash of civilizations. It’s a clash between barbarism and civilization. It’s a clash between those who glorify death and those who sanctify life. For the forces of civilization to triumph, America and Israel must stand together.”

Netanyahu’s speech before Congress was his first address to U.S. lawmakers in nearly a decade, and his first since Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel.  The Israeli Prime Minister said: “My friends, I came to assure you today of one thing: We will win. Like Dec. 7, 1941, and Sept. 11, 2001 – Oct. 7 is a day that will forever live in infamy .. For the forces of civilization to triumph, America and Israel must stand together.”

Netanyahu later in his speech said that Israel is “actively engaged in intensive efforts” to secure the release of the remaining hostages: “some of them are taking place right now … [we will] not rest until all their loved ones are home.”

The Biden administration said that Netanyahu will meet with the President on Thursday afternoon at the White House to discuss a potential ceasefire and hostage release deal, as well as the United States’ “ironclad commitment to Israel’s security.” The two leaders will also meet with the families of the Americans held hostage by Hamas. Vice President Harris will meet separately with Netanyahu on Thursday, the White House confirmed

During his speech before Congress, Netanyahu thanked Biden for his “tireless efforts on behalf of the hostages” and his “heartfelt support for Israel” after the terrorist attack:  “He came to Israel to stand with us during our darkest hour, a visit that will never be forgotten.”  

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U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has resigned, after facing calls from both Democrats and Republicans to step down since the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally on July 13, which left one attendee dead and two others critically injured. Secret Service Deputy Director Ronald Rowe, a 24-year veteran of the U.S. Secret Service, has been named as acting director.

NBC News, which was first to report Cheatle’s resignation, stated that she announced her resignation Tuesday morning in an email to Secret Service employees: “The Secret Service’s solemn mission is to protect our nation’s leaders and financial infrastructure. On July 13th, we fell short on that mission. The scrutiny over the last week has been intense and will continue to remain as our operational tempo increases. As your Director, I take full responsibility for the security lapse.”

After news of Cheatle’s resignation broke, President Biden said in a statement: “She [Cheatle] has selflessly dedicated and risked her life to protect our nation throughout her career in the United States Secret Service. We especially thank her for answering the call to lead the Secret Service during our administration and we are grateful for her service to our family. As a leader, it takes honor, courage, and incredible integrity to take full responsibility for an organization tasked with one of the most challenging jobs in public service.”

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas thanked Cheatle for her leadership as head of the Secret Service: “Over the past two years, she has led the Secret Service with skill, honor, integrity, and tireless dedication. She is deeply respected by the men and women of the agency and by her fellow leaders in the Department of Homeland Security. I am proud to have worked with Director Cheatle and we are all grateful for her service.”

Cheatle had repeatedly said she would not resign, despite being under scrutiny for the agency’s failure to prevent the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. In an interview shortly after the attack, she called the incident “unacceptable” and said it was her responsibility to ensure nothing like it would happen again: “The buck stops with me. I am the director of the Secret Service, and I need to make sure that we are performing a review and that we are giving resources to our personnel as necessary.”

During testimony before the House committee on Capitol Hill this past Monday, Cheatle again said she would not resign, but called the assassination attempt on Trump the “most significant operational failure at the Secret Service in decades. The Secret Service’s solemn mission is to protect our nation’s leaders. On July 13, we failed.  As the director of the United States Secret Service, I take full responsibility for any security lapse. We are fully cooperating with ongoing investigations. We must learn what happened .. Our mission is not political. It is literally a matter of life and death, as the tragic events on July 13 remind us of that. I have full confidence in the men and women of the Secret Service. They are worthy of our support in executing our protective mission.”

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Two of the top Democrats in Congress — Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and Sen. Chuck Schumer — publicly endorsed Kamala Harris for president on Tuesday. The endorsements from Schumer and Jeffries come a day after Harris clinched support from the majority of pledged delegates for the Democratic convention.

Schumer and Jeffries made the announcement at a press conference, with Schumer telloing reporters: “We are brimming with excitement, enthusiasm, unity .. [Harris] has done a truly impressive job securing the majority of delegates needed to win the Democratic Party’s nomination. Now that the process has played out from the grassroots, bottom up, we are here today to throw our support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.”

Jeffries echoed Schumer, adding that said he was “proud to strongly endorse” Harris for the White House, adding that Harris “is ready, willing and able to lead us into the future.”

Schumer said he and Jeffries had spoken to Harris by phone, sharing: “When I spoke with her Sunday, she said she wanted the opportunity to win the nomination on her own and to do so from the grassroots up, not top-down. We deeply respected that, Hakeem and I did. Now that the process has played out from the grassroots, bottom-up, we are here today to throw our support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.”

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., endorsed Harris on Monday, joining other top Democrats including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.,  Congressional Progressive Caucus chair Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., and multiple governors who have been mentioned as potential rivals to Harris for a presidential run.

The vote to make Harris the party’s official nominee for president will happen in early August ahead of the party’s convention.

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