President Biden praised Senator Chuck Schumer's address on Friday, calling it "a good speech" that raised concerns shared by many Americans regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Although Biden did not explicitly endorse any specific criticisms in the speech or Schumer's call for elections to replace Netanyahu, his comments marked the latest step in his escalating public critique of the Israeli prime minister. In private, Biden and Netanyahu have clashed in a series of phone calls, with the president expressing reluctance to publicly split with him. However, Biden's anger towards Netanyahu's handling of the conflict in Gaza is now pushing him to go public with his critiques.

Schumer's speech, in which he labeled Netanyahu as a "major obstacle to peace" and criticized his tolerance of civilian casualties in Gaza, was met with approval from Biden. The Senate Majority Leader also called for new elections in Israel, stating that many Israelis have lost confidence in their government. While Biden did not call for new elections himself, he expressed support for Israel's right to defend itself but also emphasized the need to reduce civilian casualties and work towards a temporary ceasefire in Gaza.

The White House, while not directly involved in planning Schumer's speech, acknowledged that the remarks resonated with many Americans. Biden's comments on Schumer's speech, coupled with his condemnation of the surge in Islamophobia in the US, hint at a potential shift in sentiment towards the Gaza war and Israel's actions. Despite not announcing any policy changes towards Israel, Biden's public support for Schumer's speech indicates a growing discontent with Netanyahu's handling of the conflict in Gaza.