Mitch McCann: US Correspondent on the response to Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the Unites States

It was a highly divisive speech from Benjamin Netanyahu as thousands protest his visit to the US.  

The Israeli Prime Minister is meeting Vice President Kamala Harris today.  

His talks to the US Congress yesterday were boycotted by dozens of senior lawmakers due to his role facilitating the war and humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.  

US Correspondent Mitch McCann told Mike Hosking the Republicans who showed up were largely supportive, with some calling it 'epic'.  

Whereas he says the Democrats were unhappy, with Nancy Pelosi calling it one of the worst speeches by a foreign dignitary invited to speak to Congress. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Mitch McCann, how are you doing.

Speaker 2 (00:02):
I'm good, Mike, How are you very well?

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Indeed, I know that some didn't turn up. There's about
thirty who didn't show. But those who did love what
they heard with Ntniahu yesterday, didn't they?

Speaker 2 (00:10):
Yeah, that's right. There was a lot of support from
the Republicans who did show up to hear from Benjamin
Bigna who today. Some people called it epic, whereas the
Democrats were unhappy with it. Nancy Pelosi called it one
of the worst speeches from the foreign dignitary invited to
speak to the Congress. Outside, there was chaos in Washington,
thousands of protesters, people burning American flags. There was graffiti

(00:33):
on monuments around Washington, and there was even a burning
effigy of Benjaminigna Who outside of Union Station in Washington
as well. So some support from Republicans. Democrats very unhappy
that he was invited.

Speaker 1 (00:46):
So he's meeting Biden, He's meeting Harris. You know what
I mean? What is he? I mean? We don't know,
do we? I mean of Trump Winsy's quids and if
these guys win, probably not.

Speaker 2 (01:00):
Yeah. Well, he's also meeting Trump tomorrow. It is a
tricky day of diplomacy, Mike, because Joe Biden and Benjaminittnya,
who have known each other for decades, but their relationship
has been fractured in the last couple of months. Biden
described Israel's actions in Gaza as over the top. He
threatened to withhold some arms transfers and repeatedly pressured Dinyahoo

(01:20):
to scale back. At the meeting, which kicked off about
an hour ago. Nittnya, who thanked Biden for forty years
of friendship and fifty years of supporting Israel, it was
all smiles on camera, but I think there's probably going
to be some difficult conversations behind the scenes. He's meeting
Kamala Harris this afternoon, which is important for him because
she could be president as early as in January. But

(01:42):
he's also flying down to Mara a Lago to meet
with Donald Trump tomorrow, who could also be president come January.
So it's going to be an interesting few days for him.

Speaker 1 (01:49):
I reckon, what'd you make of yesterday' speech? I mean,
he had all day to just muster up enough energy
for three or four minutes to let America have it,
and he couldn't even do that.

Speaker 2 (01:59):
Yeah. Well, look this is how Donald Trump described it, Mike,
as you might imagine, crooked. Joe Biden's Oval office speech
was barely understandable and so bad. Even some people that
are supportive of Joe Biden said it was a little
bit incoherent. Of course, he said yesterday that his decision
not to seek reelection and nothing can come in the
way of saving democracy. He said that includes personal ambition.

(02:21):
He also described as wanting to pass the torch. Now,
the reaction has been positive from Democrats and Republicans have
continued their calls, including the Speaker of the House, for
him to stand down, saying that if he can't run
for re election and he governed the country for another
six months.

Speaker 1 (02:36):
Well exactly, and that's the great debate that will happen.
What's your vibe on that? Will that be at Because
he didn't give a reason. He can't say it's medical,
because then they're going to get the lawyers out and
they're going to force them into some sort of retirement
or resignation. So is that going to be a debate
going forward? Do you think? Or he's done and we'll
just move on.

Speaker 2 (02:54):
Yeah, I think They're going to turn the focus now
to Kamala Harris. And I think out of the reason
that Biden stepped down, obviously is because of that pressure
within the Democratic Party from some of those leaders. Those
same leaders aren't asking him to stand down, so the
pressure is not there, but he's The Republicans are really
switching focus now to Kamala Harris. I mean, Donald Trump's
been speaking about Kamala Harris at some of his rallies

(03:15):
as well. He said she's the most incompetent and far
left vice president and history. And he also said she's
totally against the Jewish people, despite her husband being Jewish.

Speaker 1 (03:25):
Mike, Yeah, interesting, all right, make ketchup, so appreciate it
very much much. We can out of the States. And
by the way, I was telling you earlier on this week,
it seems to tell you what the week has been
stunningly fast in terms of she turns up, No, we
need an open contest. You notice Obama is nowhere to
be seen because he's lost this. He's misread the room badly.
It's a guy called Read Hastings who's heavyweight at Netflix.

(03:45):
And there was a whole bunch in the tech community
who was saying, look, let's have an open vote, let's
go to the convention, Let's not rush this, let's not
make this look like a coronation anyway. He gave seven
million dollars yesterday because he's been turned around as well.
So it seems literally everybody body has fallen into line,
and there are on track to raise one hundred million
US call it two hundred million dollars in a week

(04:09):
for her campaign. Everyone's fallen into line, seemingly apart from Barak.

Speaker 2 (04:14):
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