Kamala Harris won't preside over Netanyahu's speech to Congress as he looks to shore up U.S. support
Vice President Kamala Harris will not preside over or attend Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's joint address to Congress on Wednesday.
Vice President Kamala Harris will not preside over or attend Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's joint address to Congress on Wednesday. Instead, Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md. will oversee the event, two Congressional aides told NBC News Monday.
While the vice president typically presides over joint addresses, Harris is scheduled to be in Indianapolis on her presidential campaign which she launched on Sunday after President Joe Biden dramatically dropped his re-election bid and endorsed her in the race against former President Donald Trump. However she is expected to meet with Netanyahu separately during his visit.
NBC News has reached out to Harris' office for comment.
Cardin will preside over the joint address, after Sen. Patty Murray D-WA. declined an invitation to oversee the event, her office confirmed to NBC News. Murray, the President pro tempore of the Senate, will also not attend the address, which dozens of liberal lawmakers are expected to boycott.
“Securing a lasting, mutual ceasefire is of the utmost importance right now, and I will continue to push for one to be reached as soon as possible. I hope Prime Minister Netanyahu will use the opportunity to address how he plans to secure a ceasefire—and lasting peace in the region,” Murray said in a statement to NBC News Monday.
Rating: 5