Vice President Kamala Harris has announced that she will not co-preside over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to a joint meeting of Congress. Instead, she will attend a previously scheduled event in Indiana, the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Grand Boule in Indianapolis. This decision comes amid a wave of controversy surrounding the speech and a chaotic scene at the Capitol building.
While the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate typically preside over such joint meetings, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) acknowledged that the Vice President’s absence might be “unprecedented.” However, historical precedent exists for the President Pro Tempore to preside, including during Netanyahu’s 2015 address to Congress.
Several Democrats have voiced their opposition to Netanyahu’s speech, with many choosing to boycott the event. This opposition stems from their disapproval of Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip.
The controversy surrounding the speech is further amplified by the presence of massive pro-Palestinian protests at the Capitol building. Protesters have occupied the rotunda of the Cannon House Office Building, leading to arrests and an increased security presence. The heightened security measures include fences encircling the Capitol, reminiscent of those erected following the Capitol riots.
Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), the acting chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, will co-preside over the joint meeting in place of the Vice President. While this is a rare occurrence, it is not unprecedented. The last instance of a non-Vice President or Senate President Pro Tempore presiding over such a meeting was in 1989, when late Sen. David Pryor (D-Ark.) co-presided with late House Speaker Tom Foley (D-Wash.) during South Korean President Roh Tae-woo’s address to Congress.
The situation at the Capitol remains tense, with the campus scheduled to be locked down for much of the day. The events surrounding Netanyahu’s speech highlight the deep divisions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the complexities of US foreign policy in the region.
