Staff Reports
Donald Trump is once again showing he knows how to throw a dinner party that everyone will talk about. This time, the guest of honor is none other than Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was graciously invited to Mar-a-Lago after his grand entry into Congress. Initially, the meeting was supposed to occur earlier in the week. Still, it seems the former president decided that he needed a little more time to put the finishing touches on his legendary hospitality.
Netanyahu’s whirlwind tour in America includes a chat with none other than Joe Biden the day after he addresses Congress. One can only imagine what those conversations will be like. One side will be worrying endlessly about political optics. At the same time, the other has their fingers crossed hoping that the man who moved the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem is back in charge of American foreign policy sooner rather than later. Interestingly enough, the bipartisan invitation list seems to be a little light, with both Kamala Harris and notorious non-attendees like Sen. Bernie Sanders skipping out on Netanyahu’s big moment. It’s almost as if they know what their absence signifies: a party that stubbornly refuses to support one of America’s most critical allies.
Trump to host Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago when Israeli leader comes to US https://t.co/Q1K4Hyz7Fb
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) July 24, 2024
Partisanship will be on display as Netanyahu aims to polish his image as the “protector of Israel.” It’s almost a sport at this point—witnessing politicians trying to show their pro-Israel credentials amidst a growing chorus of skepticism from certain segments of their own party. Imagine Netanyahu taking the stage, all the while knowing that not all of his American pals in Congress have the back of Israel as they should. Truth be told, this is the time to circle the wagons, and it appears Trump is not just a protector of Israel abroad but also of the political climate at home.
This gathering is more than just a friendly meeting between two leaders; it’s a strategic play by Netanyahu. He’s smart enough to hedge his bets—after all, he knows that Trump is no stranger to the Oval Office and might be looking at a rematch in 2024. The last time Netanyahu was in Washington as Trump’s guest, history was being made, and he would probably rather not find himself sitting across from a Biden administration for too long, given their lacklustre support for Israel.
As for the current occupant of the White House, Harris is planning her own meet-and-greet with Netanyahu, likely hoping to showcase her diplomatic finesse to an increasingly skeptical public. Rumblings about her shuffling around the controversial request to ensure Israel’s right to defend itself while also expressing concern for Gaza are likely to land her firmly in the crossfire of criticism from both sides of the aisle. The chaos of the current situation under Biden’s watch, compounded by the Hamas invasion on October 7, has made for quite a hot mess.
Security measures are ramping up for Netanyahu’s address as whispers of protesters trying to dampen the proceedings emerge. However, with Mike Johnson’s military-like response to unruly attendees, one can bet that any disruptions would be dealt with swiftly—unlike the current handling of protests in other parts of the country. Meanwhile, while some Democrats sharpen their pencils to write criticism, Republicans eagerly await the return of a leader who historically knew how to manage peace in the region, unlike the current administration’s tactics that seem to only favor chaos.
