The Obama administration continues to claim the U.S./Israeli relationship, but its actions are starting to speak louder than its words.
During Monday’s White House press briefing, press secretary Josh Earnest admitted to NBC News reporter Chris Jansing that President Barack Obama will probably not end up watching Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech before Congress on Tuesday morning.
“Will the president watch the speech tomorrow?” Jansing asked.
“I haven’t looked at the president’s schedule for tomorrow,” Earnest said. “I doubt that he will spend his whole time watching the speech.”
Earnest’s admission comes as the administration plans to side with the 42 members of Congress who plan to skip the address. Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry are both out of the country.
Earlier Monday, Netanyahu delivered his address to the AIPAC conference in Washington. In his speech, Netanyahu made it clear he was not there to “disrespect” Obama or the office of the presidency, but to stand up for the Israelis.