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U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign event at Montgomery County Community College.
Washington
CNN
—
President Joe Biden said in an interview that he is a Zionist and has “done more for the Palestinian community than anyone else” and called for more support. Aid arrives for the Gaza Strip.
In a recorded interview with Complex Networks’ Speedy Moman for “360 with Speedy,” Biden said he was “1,000 percent” committed to staying in the race in 2024 amid questions about his mental health after his disastrous performance in last month’s debate. The interview was filmed on Friday, the day before the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, and released on Monday.
Biden also spoke extensively about the Gaza war for the first time in weeks, after a shaky performance at the June 27 CNN debate in which much of the recent interview focused on the president’s age and ability to run the country.
When asked directly by the interviewer if he was a Zionist, Biden replied, “Yes.” Biden has described himself as a Zionist on multiple occasions, both before and since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. Some progressives have called for the president to show more public sympathy for the plight of the Palestinians in the face of months of Israeli bombing in Gaza that have killed tens of thousands of people, many of them Palestinians. Use US weapons.
Biden seemed to expect some factions to take issue with his portrayal of himself as a Zionist.
“You don’t have to be Jewish to be a Zionist. Zionism is about whether Israel is a safe haven for Jewish people who have a history of being persecuted,” Biden said.
“Nowadays, a lot of that can be done because a lot of people don’t know what a Zionist is,” he added.
The president also touted efforts to get aid to distressed areas.
“I’m the guy who opened up all of our assets, I’m the guy who got Egypt to open their borders and let medicines and food and other goods through,” Biden said. “I’ve been a huge supporter of the Palestinians, but Hamas is a bunch of thugs.”
Before the assassination attempt on Trump, much of the focus in the 2024 presidential race had been on whether Biden could withstand serious questioning from his party about his mental health.
Asked again if he planned to remain on the ballot, Biden replied, “Unless I get hit by a train, yes.”
