President Joe Biden deliberately kept a low public profile following Iran’s attacks against Israel over the weekend, hoping that his absence from the spotlight would help deescalate the situation.
White House aides on Sunday discussed the idea of Biden delivering a national address after Israel, in conjunction with U.S. forces, shot down the vast majority of the 300 drone and missile launches from Iran forces seeking to avenge the killing of senior paramilitary leaders.
But while scheduling was fluid, there were no immediate plans for Biden to address an American audience on the conflict in the Middle East, according to six officials, granted anonymity to discuss sensitive internal planning. Advisers assessed that a major presidential event, such as a televised address, would likely escalate the tensions and may provoke Tehran, two of the officials said.
“Putting the president behind the Resolute Desk turns up the temperature,” said one of those officials. “That’s something to ideally avoid.”Such an approach remains consistent with how Biden has operated throughout the conflict in the Middle East that began soon after Hamas militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7. But it has also, at times, left the impression that he is captive to events rather than using the powers of his office to shape them.
In the immediate aftermath of the Oct. 7 attacks, Biden hugged Netanayhu and then delivered a national address widely deemed as one of the most pro-Israel speeches from a sitting president.
Since then, he has largely stayed out of the fray. While he has continued to pledge support for Israel, he has also privately grown critical of its conduct of the war. But his public condemnations of Israeli leadership for the killing of thousands of civilians in Gaza have often come in the form of an answer to a stray question from a reporter or a readout of a call with Netanyahu.
@ISIDEWITH2wks2W
Is it more important for a leader to publicly show support during conflicts, or to strategically remain quiet?
@9LKRVTF2wks2W
In my own perspective, I believe
@9LKQXKH2wks2W
I believe that it all depends on how the leader plans to lead his/her people. Some leaders may make so much noise publicly and that's all some are just all talk and no action while others do the actions and let it speak for them. Leaders are more important depending on the audience,topic and way of life.
it is probably more important for a leader to show support during a conflict.
@9LKPBVR2wks2W
It depends, there are situations like Taiwan where it's very grey and even the country itself doesn't really hunger for true independence so keeping quiet and just letting things be is a very strategically sound move but there are also times like Ukraine where it's very obvious who is in the wrong and there needs to be an international outcry to set things right for everyone involved.
@ISIDEWITH2wks2W
How would you feel if your country's leader chose to 'lay low' during an international crisis?
@9LKRD5Z2wks2W
Country leaders shouldn't do that
@9LKQ86L2wks2W
It would feel like we are trying to avoid, and yes avoiding conflict is a good thing but if it is something that can easily be fixed...then why are we avoiding it?
@Sammy06 2wks2W
our president has not helped with the crises going on in Europe and Asia
@9LKNMFM2wks2W
No a leader needs to rise to overcome our countries problems
@ISIDEWITH2wks2W
In your opinion, does staying out of the spotlight make a leader seem weak or wise?
It is both and depends on the context of what's happening
@9LKQT292wks2W
In my opinion I think staying out of the spotlight don't make you seem weak it,it makes you seem like you know what your doing and don't want the people to feel like you let them down
@ISIDEWITH2wks2W
Do you believe silence can be more powerful than words in tense situations?
@9LKRGQZ2wks2W
I believe Biden staying silent after attacks such as this and other major issues is just a sign that he is not prepared and does not have strong enough opinions to be a political leader.
@9LKR8PHRepublican2wks2W
I do believe that silence can be more powerful than words.
@9LKR8PHRepublican2wks2W
I do believe that silence can be more powerful than words.
@ISIDEWITH2wks2W
How do you think you would react if you were waiting for a public address from your leader during a conflict, but it never came?
@9LKNYZ22wks2W
This is typical Neville Chamberlain politics. Appease the aggressors.
"Low Profile" means hiding ..Its not what Americans - or the world expect if you are the "leader" of the free world. Hiding is weakness...and we have a lot of that here
@9LKPQDH2wks2W
This statement makes me believe that Biden / White House has nothing to say publicly at this time, which is not the same as saying they are doing nothing about the attack.
What, he's not out there shouting about himself and how he saved Israel and is the greatest president of all time and no other president could have done what he did and blah blah blah for 90 more minutes? Isn't that was a president does, immediately brag about himself constantly?
@K3ynesianTacosDemocrat2wks2W
WISE approach.
An example of a more mature executive public governance team and State Department
They installed Biden to be the fall guy for the planned implosion of the United States. The demoralization that comes along with having a weak, senile puppet as our President is icing on the cake for the American-hating NWO.
@FluentDotterelDemocrat2wks2W
Just like Trump did during the GOP debates.
@DelightfulTariffPatriot2wks2W
Is this what we elect a president to do? I mean what's the argument that we need Biden, if his main being invisible?
"President Biden deliberately kept a low public profile following Iran’s attacks... hoping that his absence from the spotlight would help deescalate the situation."
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