Biden plans to use Oval Office address to make case for wartime aid to Israel and Ukraine
President Biden will address the nation Thursday about the wars in Ukraine and the conflict between Israel and Hamas in a prime-time speech from the Oval Office, CNN reports.
The White House announced Biden will “address the nation to discuss our response to Hamas’ terrorist attacks against Israel and Russia’s ongoing brutal war against Ukraine.” The speech will take place at 8 p.m. ET.
The timing of the speech underscores the consequential nature of both conflicts to U.S. interests, and it comes on the heels of Biden’s trip to Israel to show support for the Jewish state and broker a deal to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.
It also comes as the White House prepares to send a supplemental funding request to Congress seeking aid for both Israel and Ukraine. The total ask could reportedly amount to roughly $100 billion, also including funding for Taiwan and U.S. border security.
Biden traveled to Israel on Wednesday nearly two weeks after Hamas, the militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, launched terrorist attacks that left more than 1,000 Israelis dead. Thousands more Palestinians have been killed in ensuing retaliatory airstrikes from Israel into Gaza.
