Biden says Hamas, Russia threaten democracy in national address
Biden on Thursday said Hamas and Russia are both out to «annihilate» democracies in an impassioned speech to the nation from the Oval Office, where he made the case for US assistance to Ukraine and Israel.
Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin «represent different threats but they share this in common: they both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy,» Biden said in the prime-time speech.
Fresh from a whirlwind trip to Israel, the 80-year-old Democrat delivered just the second speech of his presidency from behind the historic Resolute Desk in a bid to win over war-weary voters and hardline Republicans.
Biden, seeking reelection in 2024, is preparing to push Congress for a massive, $100 billion package that includes funding for Israel in its war with Hamas and for Ukraine's battle against Russia's invasion.
Tying together two conflicts an ocean away from the United States is a bid by Biden to frame them as part of a bigger struggle to shape the world order and protect Americans at home.
Biden had earlier said on X, formerly Twitter that «we are at a global inflection point that is bigger than party or politics.»
Presidents traditionally reserve speeches from the solemn setting of the Oval Office for moments of key national significance.
Biden's only previous address from there was in June when he hailed a deal with Congress to avert what would have been a catastrophic US debt default.
But Congress has now been paralyzed for more than two weeks as divided Republicans, who control the majority in the House, fail repeatedly to agree on electing a House speaker.
Hard-right Republicans, and a growing number of voters, are also strongly opposed to adding to the $43.9 billion in security assistance
