Mitch McCann: US correspondent on Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the US Congress

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken to the US Congress in Washington DC, amid waning support for Israel in its war in Gaza.

Netanyahu was invited to speak by US House Speaker Mike Johnson, where he will also meet with President Joe Biden, Vice-President Kamala Harris, and former President Donald Trump.

But US correspondent Mitch McCann says at least 30 Democratic lawmakers didn't attend, and about 5000 people protested his visit in Washington.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Mitch mccamps with us this morning. Benjamin Nittanya, who's going
to speak to Congress.

Speaker 2 (00:05):
Yeah, that's right, Good morning, Ryan, Benjaminina, who is in
Washington today. He's addressing Congress on the ongoing war in
Gaza and me waning support for Israel in parts of
the US. NTNA, who was invited the Speaker of the House,
Mike Johnson, and on the plane over to America, he
wore a hat with the words total victory emblazoned across
the top of it. And despite that invitation from the Speaker,

(00:27):
at least thirty Democratic lawmakers will not be attending, including
Bernie Sanders, Ryan, who described NTNIA who as a war
criminal presiding over an extreme white ring right winning government.
And we've also seen large protests across Washington, DC today
with an estimated five thousand people taking to the streets.

Speaker 1 (00:46):
That's so he's into provoking them too with that hat.
By the sounds of it, Biden is going to address
the country for the first time about his decision not
to run for reelection.

Speaker 2 (00:57):
Yeah, that's right. Obviously, that decision came on the weekend
after weeks of escalating pressure after that June debate, A
social media message he posted, Joe Biden conceded it was
in his parties and the country's best interests for him
not to seek reelection, and the same message he said
he would speak in greater detail later in the week.
Now that's happening today around two pm New Zealand time.

(01:18):
It's taking place in the Oval Office of the White House.
These are rare presidential addresses, but it's actually the second
one he's made in a couple of weeks. The first
one was, of course, after the assassination attempt on Donald Trump.
It's reported that Joe Biden and a close aid began
writing this speech almost immediately after his decision was made public.

(01:38):
As well as explaining his reasoning, Joe Biden is expected
to detail what his priorities are for the remainder of
his term just a few months.

Speaker 1 (01:46):
Yeah, and I guess the other thing, Mitch is he
has to show that he's up to doing the job
through till January. Mitch, thank you very much for your time.
Mitch McCann, our US correspondent.

Speaker 2 (01:55):
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Speaker 1 (02:00):
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