Vice President Kamala Harris faced massive backlash on social media on Tuesday following remarks which appeared to downplay the deadly October 7 Hamas attacks.
Harris was speaking with reporters on Monday before meeting Benny Gantz, a member of Israel’s War Cabinet.
“What’s your message for Benny Gantz?” a reporter asked Harris.
“Well, we’re going to discuss a number of things in terms of the priorities that, certainly, we have, which includes getting a hostage deal done, getting aid in and then getting that six-week cease-fire,” the vice president said.
“You know, the president and I have been very clear that Israel has a right to defend itself, that we have got to make sure that innocent civilians aren’t being killed and that we’ve got to get these hostages out,” she added.
“And that is one of the highest priorities right — that, right now, we have,” Harris said.
Predictably, Harris praised Joe Biden, claiming he has been “an extraordinary leader in getting us to this point that we have the six-week deal.”
However, Harris may not have used the right choice of words in her following statement.
“And so Hamas needs to do its thing,” she said.
Watch
Do its thing?
Social media immediately lit up with anger following Harris’ remarks, with many reminding her that the Islamic terrorist group killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians.
Author Ilya Shapiro quickly called out Harris, writing on X:
“Um… Hamas doing its thing is what started the war.”
Um… Hamas doing its thing is what started the war. https://t.co/je3Y24kRaR
— Ilya Shapiro (@ishapiro) March 5, 2024
Others also expressed anger over Harris’ remark.
Hamas's thing is very bad and we shouldnt want them to do it again
— Walter (@LongBeachBum) March 5, 2024
Hamas needs to do its thing?
— WontDance4Soros (@WontMarch4Soros) March 5, 2024
She's asking a terrorist group to "do its thing."
— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) March 5, 2024
We are ruled by the dumbest people imaginable. https://t.co/vHFNNir3VW
X Account, Citizen Free Press, noted, “This idiot is one heartbeat away from the presidency.
Following Harris’ meeting, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said, “We have been dealing with all members of the war Cabinet, including Mr. Gantz.“
“We see this as a natural outgrowth of those discussions. We’re not going to turn away that sort of opportunity.”
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