State Department reporters burst into laughter when the topic of the U.S. intervening in other nations was brought up during the press briefing.
On Monday, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller was confronted with a query regarding the extent of the U.S.’s ability to impact the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
“You have so much leverage over the Israelis and this is fundamental vision of the president,” a reporter insisted.
She added, “So you can use all the leverage you want, including weapons that you sell to Israel, to make sure that this plan is at least on the right path for implementation.”
Miller responded, “So, one thing I will say about that that people often tend to forget is that Israel, like other countries in the region, is a sovereign country that makes its own decisions.”
“The United States does not dictate to Israel what it must do, just as we don’t dictate to any country what it must do.
“We present what we believe…” he said before a reporter made a quip that led to laughter in the room.
WATCH:
REPORTER: Don’t you have leverage over the Israelis like weapons sales?
STATE DEPARTMENT: The US does not dictate to Israel what it must do, just as we don’t dictate to any country what it must do —
REPORTER: Unless you invade them.
[laughter]
STATE: Good one…Standup hour… pic.twitter.com/VcmAKFvZDi
— Ken Klippenstein (@kenklippenstein) February 26, 2024
