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With President Biden out of public view for a second straight day following terrorist atrocities in Israel, a White House spokesman opted to go after Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel Monday after she discussed how 2024 GOP hopefuls were responding to the war in Israel.

McDaniel had suggested over the weekend that GOP aspirants had a “great opportunity” to show leadership on foreign policy after the Hamas attack led to the slaughter of more than 900 people — including at least 11 US citizens.

“While apparently some individuals like Ronna McDaniel consider this loss of life and pain a ‘great opportunity,’ most Americans see it as a horrific tragedy,” said White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates. 

Bates added: “No one can ever welcome this kind of hideous behavior or try to divide our country when we need to be united.”


  RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel said 2024 candidates had a “great opportunity” to flex their foreign policy muscles after the Hamas attack. Fox News RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel said 2024 candidates had a “great opportunity” to flex their foreign policy muscles after the Hamas attack. Fox News

Approximately four hours after Bates’ tweet attacking McDaniel, the White House issued a paper statement attributed to Biden stating that at least 11 Americans had died in the attacks, and that US citizens were “likely” being held hostage by Hamas.

McDaniel’s Saturday remarks came after Fox News aired a package showing the 2024 Republican contenders criticizing Biden’s Middle East policy.

“I think this is a great opportunity for our candidates to contrast where Republicans have stood with Israel, time and time again, and Joe Biden has been weak,” McDaniel said.

“And when America is weak, the world is less safe. We’re seeing this not just with the war in Ukraine and with an emboldened China, but now with an attack on Israel.”

The RNC accused liberal critics Monday of distorting McDaniel’s comments.

“The RNC and Chairman McDaniel have long been fierce advocates for Israel, its people, and condemned the attacks immediately,” spokesperson Emma Vaughn told The Post.


  Flames and smoke billow during Israeli strikes in Gaza. REUTERS Flames and smoke billow during Israeli strikes in Gaza. REUTERS

  A plume of smoke rises in the sky of Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike. AFP via Getty Images A plume of smoke rises in the sky of Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike. AFP via Getty Images

“It’s despicable that the media is twisting Chairman McDaniel’s words and providing cover for Democrats that have repeatedly attacked Israel’s right to exist.”

On Saturday, Palestinian terrorist group Hamas unleashed a torrent of widespread attacks on the Jewish state, seemingly catching defense and intelligence officials off guard.

At least 900 have died in the carnage across Israel.


  President Biden has insisted that he stands by Israel as it retaliates against the terrorists. Getty Images President Biden has insisted that he stands by Israel as it retaliates against the terrorists. Getty Images

Hamas has also taken at least 150 hostages into Gazan territory.

Biden has not appeared in public since Saturday afternoon, when he gave a three-minute on-camera statement denouncing the terrorist attack and reaffirming US support for Israel.

“Like President Biden said in his call with Prime Minister Netanyahu the morning of these horrific terrorist attacks, the United States’ support for Israel as it defends itself is ‘rock solid and unwavering,'” Bates said.


  Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates took aim at Ronna McDaniel over her comments about the politics of the war in Israel. AFP via Getty Images Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates took aim at Ronna McDaniel over her comments about the politics of the war in Israel. AFP via Getty Images

McDaniel, like many Republicans, slammed the White House for agreeing to unfreeze $6 billion in Iranian oil assets last month as part of a prisoner swap.

“Let’s not forget that it was on 9/11 — just less than a month ago, when Joe Biden refused to go to any of the 9/11 sites — that he announced that he was giving $6 billion to Iran,” McDaniel said Saturday.

White House officials have insisted that Iran has not yet received any of that money, which is intended for humanitarian purposes only.

Iran is a backer of Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist groups in the region who have mobilized against Israel.

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