'A good speech': Biden praises Schumer's blistering criticism of Netanayhu

WASHINGTON ― President Joe Biden on Friday praised a speech by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in which the New York Democrat called for Israel to hold elections to replace Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu five months into Israel's war with Hamas.

Biden told reporters that Schumer contacted senior White House staff in advance that he planned to deliver Thursday's speech, in which Schumer from the Senate floor blasted Netanyahu as an obstacle to peace in the Middle East, saying he has "lost his way" by putting "political survival" ahead of the best interests of Israel.

"I'm not going to elaborate on the speech," Biden said. "He made a good speech, and I think he expressed serious concern shared not only by him, but by many Americans."

Schumer, a close ally of Biden and the highest-ranking elected Jewish official in U.S. history, said Thursday that "it has become clear to me: The Netanyahu coalition no longer fits the needs of Israel after Oct. 7."

“Nobody expects Prime Minister Netanyahu to do the things that must be done to break the cycle of violence, preserve Israel’s credibility on the world stage and work toward a two-state solution," Schumer said.

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Schumer called a new election in Israel "the only way to allow for a healthy and open decision-making process about the future of Israel."

The White House stopped short of endorsing Schumer's push for new elections in Israel. John Kirby, the White House's spokesman for the National Security Council, said, "That's going to be up for the Israeli people to decide," when asked whether Biden supports new elections to replace Netanyahu.

Kirby said Biden was speaking to "the passion with which Leader Schumer made that speech," adding that Biden knows Schumer's remarks "resonate with many Americans."

"For our part, we're going to keep supporting Israel in their fight against Hamas," Kirby said, declining to elaborate further on Biden's views on Schumer's position. "I'll leave it at the president's comments."

The Biden administration has become increasingly at odds with Netanyahu over Israel's refusal to scale back the war in Gaza and its efforts to get humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians. Biden has faced increasing pressure from progressives and Arab-Americans for his unwavering support of Israel in the months since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

Netanyahu has refused Biden's demand for a two-state solution to the Middle East crisis and has pledged to continue the war in Gaza until Hamas is crushed.

Last week, top White House officials including Vice President Kamala Harris met with Benny Gantz, a member of Israel’s wartime Cabinet and a centrist political rival of Netanyahu, who did not authorize Gantz's trip to Washington. Gantz is widely considered to be Netanyahu's most likely election opponent.

After Biden's State of the Union address last week, Biden was caught on a hot microphone saying he's going to need a "come to Jesus meeting" with Netanyahu.

Reach Joey Garrison on X, formerly Twitter, @Joeygarrison.