Elon Musk attends Netanyahu’s speech to Congress as his visitor

Elon Musk attended Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handle to Congress as his visitor.

The Israeli Embassy didn’t instantly reply to a request for affirmation that Musk had been invited to the speech as Netanyahu’s visitor.

Forward of the speech, Musk was seen within the gallery, above the ground, seated close to Netanyahu’s spouse, Sara Netanyahu.

The Tesla Motors CEO’s go to to Capitol Hill got here a day after he introduced on X that his satellite tv for pc web firm Starlink had been activated in a Gaza hospital, with the help of Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

9 months into the Israel-Hamas war and the ensuing humanitarian disaster in Gaza, Netanyahu’s speech has develop into a lightning rod of controversy, triggering an eruption of protests in Washington.

Shortly earlier than Netanyahu was scheduled to start talking, U.S. Capitol Police introduced they had been “deploying pepper spray” towards protesters who had “began to develop into violent” near the Capitol.

Greater than 30 members of Congress mentioned they weren’t planning to attend Netanyahu’s handle, many in protest of the Israeli prime minister’s strategy to the Israel-Hamas warfare.

Regardless of the absences, the prime minister entered a crowded Home flooring to loud applause and cheering, shaking palms with varied lawmakers on his approach to the rostrum.

Vice President Kamala Harris can be not attending Netanyahu’s speech, a conspicuous departure from custom. The White Home attributed her absence to the calls for of journey.

Usually, the vice chairman presides over joint congressional periods, however Harris is touring Wednesday, because the newly minted Democratic front-runner for the occasion’s presidential nomination.

Former President Donald Trump’s working mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, can be skipping the speech on account of his “duties to meet because the Republican nominee for Vice President,” a Trump marketing campaign official advised NBC Information.

Within the vice chairman’s absence, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., would normally take her place because the president professional tempore of the Senate, however she isn’t attending Netanyahu’s handle for ideological causes, based on NBC Information.

As an alternative, Senate Overseas Relations Chairman Ben Cardin, D-Md., will preside over Netanyahu’s joint handle.

“America relationship with the State of Israel transcends politics and partisanship,” Cardin mentioned in a press release to NBC Information. “It transcends anyone Israeli authorities or anyone U.S. administration.”

Although Harris attributed her Wednesday absence to journey, most of the not less than 30 lawmakers have to this point mentioned they’re skipping the speech to boycott Netanyahu. A number of, together with former Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., mentioned they are going to as an alternative be assembly with households of hostages held by Hamas or attending a panel on Center East peace and safety.

“Netanyahu shouldn’t be welcomed into the US Congress. Quite the opposite, his insurance policies in Gaza and the West Financial institution and his refusal to help a two-state resolution ought to be roundly condemned,” mentioned Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., among the many loudest critics of Netanyahu because the warfare carries on.

Wednesday’s speech is Netanyahu’s fourth handle to Congress, the final of which happened in March 2015.

Whereas the Prime Minister is on Capitol Hill, he’ll meet with the highest 4 congressional lawmakers: Home Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.

On Thursday, Netanyahu will even have separate conferences with President Joe Biden and Harris on the White House.