Share this @internewscast.com

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden quietly hosted a meeting Thursday for a handful of Muslim leaders, according to four sources familiar with the White House gathering, as he faces pressure from the Arab American community over what they contend is his comparative disregard for the Palestinian civilian deaths and domestic threats arising from the war between Israel and Hamas.

The White House neither announced the afternoon meeting in advance nor even confirmed that it happened — a vivid contrast to the approach taken when Biden met with Jewish leaders four days after the war began. At that event, Biden gave televised remarks in which he reaffirmed his “unshakeable” bond with Israel and people of the Jewish faith.

One person who attended the session on Thursday said they would have preferred if the White House acknowledged the meeting and publicized the president’s remarks.

“The optics don’t look good,” the attendee said, speaking on condition of anonymity to talk freely about the discussion with Biden. “We hope the White House moves forward with providing equal measures of transparency, inclusion and respect.”

For all the secrecy the White House attached to the meeting, some of the participants appeared happy to discuss it. A second attendee, Rami Nashashibi of the Inner-City Muslim Action Network, held a news conference in Chicago on Friday to lay out what took place.

Biden spent about an hour talking privately to the Muslim leaders. He invited them to voice concerns and asked their opinions on policy and messaging matters, a person familiar with his comments said.

Gathered in the West Wing, the guests asked Biden to call for a cease-fire in the war, the person who was in the room said. Some also objected that Biden didn’t seem to show enough sympathy for civilians dying in the conflict, nor the plight of Muslim Americans facing discrimination at home, the person added.

“It was a frank, candid, emotional discussion to drive home the point that we need to see better humanization of Palestinians and recognition of their loss,” the person who attended the meeting said. “Half of Gaza is children, and it was conveyed to the president that his statements fell short and didn’t show empathy.”

“We raised concerns about intimidation and hate against our communities. The president really took that to heart and left the participants hopeful that he would address this.”

In addition to Nashashibi, according to sources, the guests included Keith Ellison, who had been the first Muslim elected to Congress and is now attorney general of Minnesota; Wa’el Alzayat, the CEO of Emgage, a group devoted to educating and mobilizing Muslim voters; Suzanne Barakat, board chair of Our Three Winners, which aims to curb prejudice against Muslims; and Imam Mohamed Magid, of the All Dulles Area Muslim Society.

The meeting comes at a moment when the White House is stepping up its outreach to Arab, Palestinian and Muslim Americans across the country and inside the federal government.

After making a series of public statements at the outset of the war reaffirming his solidarity with Israel, Biden over the past two weeks has recalibrated his language to show more concern for the civilians who’ve died in the Israeli counterattack. He has told Israeli leaders not to let understandable anger over Hamas’ massacre of 1,400 Israelis shape the lethality of the country’s response.

Biden, in the meeting, “made it very clear that his administration is working very hard to avoid escalation,” the participant said. 

Many Arab-American leaders remain dissatisfied with Biden’s rhetoric, even though he is talking more about the importance of Israeli restraint. At a news conference on Wednesday, Biden was asked about mounting numbers of civilians who’ve died from Israel’s aerial bombardment.

“I’m sure innocents have been killed, and it’s the price of waging war,” Biden said.

The Muslim leaders flagged that comment in their conversation with Biden as an example of hurtful language.

They told him the statement was “very harmful and dehumanizing and, as someone who is known for being an empathic figure, we really need to do better,” the participant said.

Biden’s response was that he merely meant to question Hamas’ credibility in releasing civilian casualty numbers, the person added.

A year away from the presidential election, Muslim leaders are warning that Biden could face a voter backlash over his handling of the war. If successful, the White House’s extensive outreach campaign could help mollify a constituency that is especially important in Michigan, a battleground state that Biden won in 2020.

“I’m not surprised the meeting happened,” said Nihad Awad, national executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). “It’s the result of growing pressure on him [Biden] and anger that is growing nationwide against him because of his one-sided, unfair policy.”

“In my personal capacity as someone who voted for him, he lost my vote,” Awad added.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Hollywood piano teacher allegedly flees country after sexual abuse conviction involving teen

Renowned Hollywood Piano Instructor Vanishes Overseas Following Teen Abuse Verdict

In an unexpected twist, a Hollywood piano teacher, convicted of sexually abusing…
Eric Adams endorses once bitter rival Andrew Cuomo in New York City's mayoral race

Eric Adams Offers Support to Former Rival Andrew Cuomo in NYC Mayoral Campaign

In an unexpected political maneuver, New York City Mayor Eric Adams has…
Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance denounces driver's license checkpoint plan for Green Cove Springs

Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance Criticizes Proposed Driver’s License Checkpoint Initiative in Green Cove Springs

A proposed driver’s license checkpoint in Green Cove Springs, Florida, has sparked…
President Donald Trump says he's terminating all trade negotiations with Canada over anti-tariff television advertisement campaign

Trump Halts Trade Talks with Canada Following Controversial TV Ad Campaign

WASHINGTON — Late Thursday, President Donald Trump declared the termination of “all…
‘He knew how to swim’: Family rejects ‘accident’ as Houston bayou death mystery deepens

Family Disputes Accident Claim in Houston Bayou Tragedy: Skilled Swimmer’s Death Sparks Mystery

The perplexing case of Kenneth Cutting Jr.’s death in a Houston bayou…
Oswego, Illinois Chick-fil-A: Darryl Lee Jr., 19, charged with murder in stabbing attacks at restaurant on Route 34, officials say

Tragic Incident: 19-Year-Old Charged with Murder in Oswego’s Route 34 Chick-fil-A Stabbing

OSWEGO, Ill. (WLS) — Authorities have charged a suspect in connection with…
Louvre director grilled on spectacular security failures, including camera pointing away from key balcony

Louvre Director Faces Scrutiny Over Significant Security Lapses, Including Misaligned Camera Over Key Balcony

The director of the renowned Louvre Museum in Paris is under intense…
Justice Dept. seeks to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Liberia

Breaking: Justice Dept. Moves to Deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Liberia – Here’s What You Need to Know

Washington — The Justice Department announced on Friday that the Trump administration…
Rosa Parks and Helen Keller statues unveiled at the Alabama Capitol

Statues of Rosa Parks and Helen Keller Unveiled at Alabama State Capitol

In a momentous event on Friday, the Alabama Capitol grounds witnessed the…
Illegal immigrant truck driver in fatal California crash should never have had license: DOT report

DOT Report Reveals Fatal California Crash Involved Unlicensed Immigrant Truck Driver

In a striking report released on Thursday night, Sean P. Duffy, the…
Michael Wolff Sues Melania Trump, Plans to Question Her

Michael Wolff Initiates Legal Action Against Melania Trump, Seeks to Question Her

Michael Wolff, the controversial author famous for his insider accounts of the…
ALDOT cooperating with investigators following shooting that led to Kimber Mills' death in central Alabama

ALDOT Collaborates with Authorities in Investigation of Fatal Shooting of Kimber Mills in Central Alabama

On Sunday morning, a tragic shooting occurred during a bonfire gathering in…