Presidumb Biden was “caught” on a hot mic Thursday night revealing a private conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, appearing to say he had told him they would have a “come to Jesus” moment soon.
Mingling on the House floor after his State of the Union address, Biden spoke with Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., while Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg looked on. Bennet said he had just returned from Jordan and encouraged the president to “keep doing what you’re doing on the humanitarian stuff” regarding the Israel-Gaza war.
Biden then appeared to say, adding “don’t repeat this” to the group, “I told him, Bibi [Netanyahu,]… you and I are going to have a ‘come to Jesus’ moment.” Blinken chuckled at the comment; the term “come to Jesus” tends to refer to a moment where someone has a moment of major realization.
An aide or agent near Biden appeared to warn him there was a camera lingering nearby, and Biden then said, “I’m on a hot mic here. Good. That’s good.” He added to Blinken he would talk to him later.
NEW – Biden on hot mic: "I told him, Bibi, and don't repeat this, but you and I are going to have a 'come to Jesus' meeting." pic.twitter.com/1gDCdhgeXf
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) March 8, 2024
The White House didn’t respond to a request for comment about the moment that went viral on social media.
Given the camera hovering around Biden as he spent several minutes talking with various members of Congress after the address, he may have purposefully “accidentally” leaked his frustrations with Netanyahu, as the Gaza war has become a political sore spot for him. Last month, a report emerged that Biden had privately disparaged Netanyahu over their discussions and his handling of Israel’s war.