President Biden welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House Thursday — a day after chaotic anti-Israel protests near the Capitol.
“Welcome back, Mr. Prime Minister, we got a lot to talk about, I think we should get to it — the floor is yours,” the 81-year-old president said in his only introductory remarks after shaking Netanyahu’s hand.
“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,” Netanyahu said.
“And I look forward to discussing with you today and working with you in the months ahead on the great issues before us.”
Biden chimed in: “I look forward to it as well. And by the way, that first meeting with Prime Minister Golda Meir, she had an assistant sitting next to me. A guy named Rabin. That’s how far back it goes. I was only 12 then.”
Both leaders ignored a cacophony of shouted questions from reporters crowded into the Oval Office.
Only a few dozen protesters showed up to oppose Netanyahu’s visit — after thousands on Wednesday burned American flags, toted Hamas flags and spray-painted messages of support for the terrorist group on DC landmarks.
Biden dropped out of his re-election bid Sunday — amid a Democratic mutiny over his cognitive fitness, but also as swing-state furor from Muslim and Arab voters threatened to tank him in an anticipated rematch against former President Donald Trump.
Vice President Kamala Harris, whom Biden endorsed as his replacement in the Nov. 5 election, is expected to meet Thursday afternoon with Netanyahu — after skipping his speech to Congress Wednesday to instead address members of a black sorority in Indiana.
Biden strongly supported Netanyahu’s invasion of the Gaza Strip shortly after Hamas terrorists massacred about 1,200 people in an Oct. 7 surprise attack, but increased his criticism of the Israeli leader as civilian casualties mounted in the war.