The White House announced on Monday that US President Joe Biden has abruptly cancelled his planned trip to Colorado, leading to speculation that he may soon visit Israel to show support in the country’s ongoing conflict with Hamas.
According to National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, Biden has been invited to Israel by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, no official travel plans have been announced at this time.
Originally, Biden, 80, was scheduled to visit a wind turbine manufacturing plant in Colorado, where he intended to highlight the economic revival and pro-environmental messages central to his 2024 reelection campaign. The White House stated that the cancelled trip will be rescheduled.
In a brief statement, the White House announced that Biden will remain in Washington to participate in national security meetings, fueling speculation among various media outlets that he may potentially travel to Israel later this week.
Kirby explained that Biden will “stay focused on what’s going on between Israel and Hamas.”
Multiple news sources, including Axios and CNN, have reported discussions between US and Israeli officials regarding a possible Biden visit to Israel.
Biden has consistently expressed strong support for Israel, a close ally of the United States, as it responds to the October 6 Hamas attack from Gaza, which resulted in the deaths of numerous Israeli civilians.
In February, Biden undertook a high-risk trip to Ukraine, which was shrouded in secrecy. His most recent visit to Israel took place in July 2022.
