Watan-Without realizing the presence of an “open” microphone, President Joe Biden inadvertently revealed details of a heated conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Biden’s remarks came during a discussion with Democratic Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado in the U.S. House of Representatives chamber in Washington, D.C., following his State of the Union address.
Unaware that the microphone was not muted, Biden unknowingly disclosed what was being discussed in this side conversation.
After delivering the State of the Union address, Biden stood with Senator Bennet, who informed him that he had recently visited Israel and urged him to continue pressing for humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Biden replied, “I told Bibi… Don’t repeat that (meaning the senator should not disclose this and keep the conversation confidential), and I said you and I will have a meeting (coming to Jesus),” referring to an American English term used to indicate the seriousness of a meeting.
BIDEN: “I told him, Bibi — don’t repeat this — you and I are going to have a come to Jesus meeting.”
HANDLER: Sir, you’re on a hot mic pic.twitter.com/slevQZPDap
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) March 8, 2024
The phrase “come to Jesus” has gained increasing popularity in English language to signify a meeting where the seriousness of the situation is emphasized, or where there may be consequences for one of the participants’ actions.
It caught Biden’s attention
Biden was alerted by one of his aides, who was standing nearby, quietly in the president’s ear, seemingly indicating that the microphone was still on.
After being alerted, Biden said, “The microphone is on here… Okay, that’s good.”
Journalists asked Biden about the incident as he boarded Air Force One to Philadelphia. Initially, he said, “I didn’t say that.”
This seemed to suggest that the comment was not related to Gaza in his State of the Union address.
However, when asked about what he said after the speech, he remarked, “You all heard me, folks.”
The American President had previously criticized Netanyahu’s government for not addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as a priority, emphasizing that Israel should not use aid as a political bargaining chip.