Advertisement
On Monday, Joe Biden sat in the situation room weighing his response to a drone strike that killed three American soldiers in Jordan; He leaves the White House on Tuesday for a fundraiser through Florida. The trip includes a campaign stop in Jupiter, near Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home and political headquarters, where he is raising money for the 2024 re-election.
Then Biden, 81, will make the short hop to Miami for a second event. He has made little effort so far to win over Florida, which was once a swing state but is now considered solid Republican territory.
The campaign shift comes against the backdrop of a worsening crisis in the Middle East and as Biden and his top advisers step up attacks on Iran-backed militias, and as his administration weathers intense criticism that it should have done more to deter Tehran.
Last weekend, an Iranian-backed (suicide) drone killed three American soldiers at a remote base near Jordan’s border with Syria.
The victims were named Monday as Specialist Kennedy Ladon Sanders (pictured left), 24, Specialist Breonna Moffett (pictured right), 23, and Sergeant William Rivers (pictured center), 46.
Iran-backed militias, calling themselves the Axis of Resistance, have also launched more than 160 attacks on US targets since the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas.
However, Biden must weigh any response to avoid an even worse confrontation with Iran. “We are not looking for a war with Iran.”
“We are not looking to escalate tensions, any more than they have already escalated,” White House national spokesman John Kirby said Monday. “That said, this was a very serious attack. It had deadly consequences. We will respond, and we will respond appropriately.”
According to Reuters, those hosting Biden’s Miami fundraiser include Biden Victory Fund national finance chairman Chris Korge. Among the Palm Beach presenters is attorney Sean Domnick.
He will be followed to Florida on Wednesday by Nikki Haley, Trump’s last remaining challenger. She will hold fundraisers in southern Florida ahead of the next major competition later in February in her home state of South Carolina.
Want more stories like this from the Daily Mail? Visit our profile page here and hit the follow button above for more news you need.