Central Montana Times

U.S. Senator Steve Daines, along with his Senate Republican colleagues, expressed disapproval at a press conference today over President Biden's decision to place conditions on lethal aid to Israel. The aid had previously been approved by the House and Senate in an overwhelmingly bipartisan manner.

Daines shared his recent experience visiting George Washington University, where he witnessed a statue of George Washington draped in a Palestinian flag and vandalized with spray paint. He recounted the sight of tents set up by pro-Hamas protesters and noted that Jewish students and faculty expressed fear about their safety on campus.

"Later that night, these pro-Hamas protesters went to the university administrators’ and the president’s home and called for the beheading of some of the administrators and leaders at GW," Daines said.

The senator criticized President Biden for his perceived lack of action in response to these events. He also questioned why aid to Israel was being put on hold, suggesting it was a move to appease Biden's liberal base in areas such as Dearborn, Michigan.

"This is not going to help Israel win the war. It’s not going to help get our hostages home," Daines stated. "Mr. President, Afghanistan was bad enough. Now you’re going to leave more Americans stranded and in the hands of terrorists."

Daines urged Democrats to join Republicans in condemning President Biden's remarks and demanding a reversal of his course. He stressed that this is a critical moment requiring moral clarity: "You are either for Israel or you’re for Iran and their desire to exterminate Israel and Jews around the world."

Earlier this week, Daines visited George Washington University and spoke about his visit at the Senate Republican Leadership press conference.