President Joe Biden has been seen in pictures and videos enjoying a weekend of walks on Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, as Hamas terrorists pushed their campaign of destruction against Israel and the U.S. placed additional troops on prepare-to-deploy orders to the Middle East.
One short clip shows the octogenarian and first lady Jill Biden strolling the Atlantic beachfront on Sunday while a reporter off screen asks him about the release of Americans being held hostage by Hamas terrorists.
Biden cheerily waves towards the reporter but does not stop to answer questions before continuing his jocund seaside perambulation.
U.S. President Joe Biden waves to the media as he and First Lady Jill Biden walk on the beach in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, on October 22, 2023. (KENT NISHIMURA/AFP via Getty Images)
“Americans are still being held hostage by Hamas terrorists—and Joe Biden is at the beach,” the RNC Research group posted on X, formerly Twitter, in recording the exchange.
On Sunday, the White House said Biden had spoken with Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a conversation in which the president “expressed appreciation” for Israel’s support in helping to accommodate the release of the two American hostages.
Earlier in the day Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin placed additional U.S. troops on prepare-to-deploy orders to the Middle East, as Breitbart News reported.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has placed additional U.S. troops on prepare-to-deploy orders to the Middle East (Jose Luis Magana/AP)
“I have placed an additional number of forces on prepare to deploy orders as part of prudent contingency planning, to increase their readiness and ability to quickly respond as required,” he said in a statement.
The number of forces put on prepare-to-deploy orders was not specified, but the Pentagon has previously confirmed the number was roughly 2,000.
Some troops would come from the U.S. and some from within Europe or other areas of operation.