Biden on Schumer's criticism of Netanyahu: 'He made a good speech'

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Friday praised the speech delivered by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., a day earlier in which he said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has "lost his way" and called for new elections in Israel.

“He made a good speech and I think he expressed a serious concern shared not only by him but by many Americans," Biden told reporters in the Oval Office when asked what he thought about Schumer's remarks.

Biden, who said that Schumer contacted his staff in advance of making the speech Thursday, said he wouldn't elaborate further on the comments.

The speech by Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish official in the U.S. ever, was the most significant criticism by a U.S. leader against Israel since its war with Hamas began after Oct. 7.

“Five months into this conflict, it is clear that Israelis need to take stock of the situation and ask, must we change course?” Schumer said. “At this critical juncture, I believe a new election is the only way to allow for a healthy and open decision-making process about the future of Israel.”

Schumer said that Netanyahu has allowed "his political survival to take precedence over the best interests of Israel" and expressed that the prime minister's recent indications that he's not interested in the formation of an independent Palestinian state don't align with U.S. policy.

During a White House press briefing later on Friday, national security spokesman John Kirby sidestepped a question about whether Biden also wants to see new elections in Israel and for Netanyahu to no longer remain in power.

"That's going to be up for the Israeli people to decide," Kirby said.

Biden has faced ongoing calls from the progressive wing of the Democratic Party to