Rep. Elise Stefanik, the highest-ranking female Republican in the House and a potential top choice for former President Donald Trump’s VP, delivered a speech before Israel’s parliament on Sunday.
In her speech, Stefanik offered support for the country in its continued war with Hamas. However, she also took time to differentiate between Trump and President Joe Biden in their support for Israel.
“There is no excuse for an American president to block aid to Israel – aid that was duly passed by the Congress, or to ease sanctions on Iran, paying a $6 billion ransom to the world’s leading state sponsor of terror, or to dither and hide while our friends fight for their lives,” Stefanik said.
Stefanik was referencing the paused munitions shipment that was supposed to send 2,000-pound bombs to Israel earlier this month.
The shipment pause came as Israel’s forces continued to advance on Rafah, a move that Biden and his administration have vocally not supported.
Biden has gone as far as to say he would not provide Israel with weapons for an offensive in the city, where thousands of refugees have fled over the course of the war. Biden also acknowledged that Israel had used American-made weapons for some of its deadly attacks in Gaza.
“I made it clear that if they go into Rafah — they haven’t gone into Rafah yet — if they go into Rafah, I’m not supplying the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah, to deal with the cities,” Biden said while talking with CNN last week.
Still, Biden has continued to offer Israel support in its defensive efforts, with the White House saying the US would ensure that Israel received the full amount pledged in a piece of legislation passed through Congress. That includes nearly $14 billion for the nation’s defense.
The Biden administration also shared last week that it would transfer $1 billion in weapons to Israel.
Still, Stefanik continued to push that Trump was a better ally of Israel, saying, “for years, I have been a leading proponent and partner to President Trump in his historic support for Israeli independence and security.”
She also seemed to address the recent protests at college campuses, stressing that the majority of the US stands “firmly behind Israel and the Jewish people.”
“We must not let the extremism in ‘elite’ corners conceal the deep, abiding love for Israel among the American people. Most Americans feel a strong connection to your people,” Stefanik said.