White House Evasive on Biden's Lack of Public Appearances Amid Middle East Tensions

Despite rising tensions in the Middle East, President Biden has not made any public appearances since Monday, leaving the White House to dodge questions about his absence.

President Biden's lack of public appearances has become a new concern for the White House, especially amid heightened tensions in the Middle East. Since stepping out of the 2024 presidential race, Biden has largely relied on Vice President Kamala Harris to take the lead, while his own public engagements have become increasingly scarce.

Fox News correspondent David Spunt pressed White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on whether the American people could expect to hear directly from Biden this week, given the escalating situation. Jean-Pierre's response was evasive, claiming that the administration was "in a different time" and that "you will get to see the president."

White House Evasive on Biden's Lack of Public Appearances Amid Middle East Tensions

While Jean-Pierre emphasized the president's focus on de-escalating tensions in the Middle East, she pointed to two "readouts" released by the White House as evidence of Biden's involvement. These readouts indicated that Biden had spoken with the leaders of Jordan, Qatar, and Egypt.

Despite these claims, Biden has not been seen publicly since Monday, when he was briefly spotted walking from Marine One to the Oval Office. His absence has raised concerns about his health and well-being, particularly given his advanced age of 81.

White House Evasive on Biden's Lack of Public Appearances Amid Middle East Tensions

The White House also had to address a separate issue on Tuesday: the indictment of Asif Merchant, a Pakistani man alleged to have ties to Iran. Merchant was charged with a plot to carry out political assassinations on U.S. soil, potentially including former President Trump.

Jean-Pierre clarified that the charges against Merchant were unrelated to the July 13 assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. However, she acknowledged that the administration was aware of Iranian threats against former politicians and emphasized the high priority given to homeland security in this regard.

White House Evasive on Biden's Lack of Public Appearances Amid Middle East Tensions

Meanwhile, the Biden administration has been grappling with other challenges, including economic concerns and a tropical storm approaching Florida and South Carolina. Despite the president's claim last week that he had "cured the economy," global stocks plummeted on Monday, raising doubts about the strength of the recovery.

In addition to these domestic issues, the administration is also facing international pressure amid heightened tensions in the Middle East. Top U.S. national security leaders have urged all parties to avoid escalating the conflict, while Iran has pledged retaliation if attacked.

White House Evasive on Biden's Lack of Public Appearances Amid Middle East Tensions

The White House's continued refusal to clarify Biden's lack of public appearances has only added to the uncertainty and concern surrounding his leadership. Whether the president will emerge from his isolation to address the nation directly remains an open question.