It’s been revealed that President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will not attend Vice President Kamala Harris’s nomination speech at the Democratic National Convention (DNC). Additionally, Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) has opted to skip the entire convention, amid concerns about potential mass protests over Israel.
According to CNN, after Monday night’s events, President Biden will depart Chicago for a vacation in Southern California, leaving the spotlight on Harris for the remainder of the week. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is scheduled to address the convention on Wednesday, with Harris set to deliver her acceptance speech on Thursday, as reported by the Alabama Reflector.
Fetterman, however, will not attend the convention at all. He told The Free Press that he will be spending time with his children instead, emphasizing that his decision is unrelated to concerns over Israel. While Fetterman has been a strong supporter of Israel during his tenure, he explained that his decision to skip the DNC was made prior to the Trump-Biden debate in June.
Following the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas on Israel, Fetterman stated, “I forcefully condemn these cowardly, horrifying, unprovoked attacks on Israel by Hamas. Attacking innocent civilians is particularly despicable and reflects the craven behavior of this terrorist group. I unequivocally stand with the people of Israel now, and always.”
In his interview with The Free Press, Fetterman expressed frustration with some of his colleagues over how they have handled the situation, though he did not specify which members of Congress he was referring to.
Approximately 100,000 activists are expected to march on the DNC throughout the week, with some already gathering on Sunday to protest ahead of the convention’s official start on Monday. A speaker addressing the crowd, some of whom were waving Palestinian flags, cheered for abortion access and encouraged those present to “go get abortion pills!” In anticipation of possible unrest, some businesses in Chicago have already boarded up their premises.