Elon Musk made a surprise appearance in Washington on Wednesday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress, attending the event as Netanyahu’s guest.
Musk sat in Netanyahu’s private box in the visitors’ gallery above the House floor, alongside Netanyahu’s wife Sara, several Israeli soldiers, and at least one former hostage of Hamas.
Read more: US Democrats are ‘openly anti-Semitic’ – Musk
The Tesla CEO’s visit to Capitol Hill came a day after he announced on X that his satellite internet company, Starlink, had been activated in a Gaza hospital, with the support of Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
Nine months into the Israel-Hamas war and the resulting humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Netanyahu’s speech has become a lightning rod of controversy, triggering an eruption of protests in Washington.
https://twitter.com/UncorruptedMan/status/1816590809493327905
Shortly before Netanyahu was scheduled to begin speaking, U.S. Capitol Police announced they were “deploying pepper spray” against protesters who had “started to become violent” close to the Capitol.
In his speech, Netanyahu scolded the protesters, calling them “Iran’s useful idiots.”
What do they have on Elon Musk?
He’s obviously being blackmailed. pic.twitter.com/BwIVDjtcqb
— Dr. Anastasia Maria Loupis (@DrLoupis) July 26, 2024
“These protesters chant from river to the sea, but many don’t have a clue what river and what sea they’re talking about,” Netanyahu said.
Read more: Biden accuses Musk of trying to ‘buy the election’
More than 30 members of Congress did not attend Netanyahu’s address, many of them skipping the event in protest of the Israeli prime minister’s approach to the Israel-Hamas war.
One of Netanyahu’s most vocal opponents in Congress, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., did attend the speech. At several points, Tlaib held up a sign that read “War Criminal.” The clear breach of House decorum reflects the deep and painful divisions in Congress over the prime minister’s leadership. Despite the absences, the prime minister entered a crowded House floor to loud applause and cheering, shaking hands with various lawmakers on his way to the podium.
🇺🇸 Elon Musk applauds Netanyahu during his Congress speech
Kneel He Must 🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/HHdh93rjEL
— Khalissee (@Kahlissee) July 24, 2024
“America and Israel must stand together because when we stand together something very simple happens. We win, they lose,” Netanyahu said at the opening of his remarks.
The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to President Joe Biden “for his heartfelt support for Israel.”
“President Biden and I have known each other for over 40 years,” Netanyahu said. “I want to thank him for half a century of friendship to Israel.”
Biden and Netanyahu are scheduled to meet at the White House on Thursday.