Iran on Friday launched an attack on Israel a day after President Joe Biden warned Tehran not to.
“Don’t,” Biden had told reporters after he was asked Thursday what his message to Iran was, after it had threatened to attack Israel in response to a suspected recent Israeli strike against seven members of the Iranian military, including two generals in Syria.
“We are devoted to the defense of Israel,” he added. “We will support Israel. We will defend — help defend Israel, and Iran will not succeed.”
Biden was planning on spending the weekend in Rehoboth Beach but returned earlier in the day and was slated to meet with his national security team in the Situation Room.
There were reports that he would address the nation from the Oval Office, but the White House then called a lid at 5:13 p.m. ET, according to the White House press pool.
Critics slammed Biden for weakness on Iran. Cliff Sims, a former senior Trump administration official, posted on X: “Biden reversed all the Trump policies that made Iran weaker and poorer. Now they’re spending all the money Biden gave them attacking Israel, terrorizing the world and threatening to plunge us into WWIII.”
Biden reversed all the Trump policies that made Iran weaker and poorer.
— Cliff Sims (@Cliff_Sims) April 13, 2024
Now they’re spending the money Biden gave them attacking Israel, terrorizing the world and threatening to plunge us into WWIII.
Morgan Ortagus, former Trump State Department press secretary, said in a post: “Reminder: “Biden allowed the UN sanctions on Iran’s drones and ballistic missiles to expire less than six months ago. The very same drones and missiles en route to Israel right now.”
Reminder: Biden allowed the UN sanctions on Iran's drones and ballistic missiles to expire less than six months ago.
— Morgan Ortagus (@MorganOrtagus) April 13, 2024
The very same drones and missiles en route to Israel right now. pic.twitter.com/KKIpjBWD0j
Donald Trump Jr. posted on X: “Remember when they said Trump would get us into a full-blown war with Iran? Times like these should make us all realize how lucky we were to have Trump, his strength and his resolve.”
Remember when they said Trump would get us into a full-blown war with Iran?
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) April 13, 2024
Times like these should make us all realize how lucky we were to have Trump, his strength and his resolve.
Top Senate Iran hawk Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) on Friday reposted a tweet from Trump and added:
.@JoeBiden, this is how you handle Iran’s threats. https://t.co/5iIoNbyx5z
— Tom Cotton (@TomCottonAR) April 12, 2024
CNN: Biden departed the beach "moments ago," just as Iran began its attacks on Israel.
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) April 13, 2024
Yesterday, Biden said he expected an Iranian attack "sooner [rather] than later" — but left for the beach anyway. pic.twitter.com/xpsjLVP03P
Joe Biden has spent the past few weeks trying to shore up support from the pro-Hamas wing of his party - is it any surprise Iran attacks Israel while the guy is somewhere on a beach in Delaware when he should have been in the White House working to avoid WWIII?!
— Nancy Mace (@NancyMace) April 13, 2024
