Biden’s Middle East trip did not appear popular among US lawmakers

US President Joe Biden's trip to Israel, the Palestinian territories and Saudi Arabia did not appear to be popular among legislators.

For the most part, Democratic lawmakers avoided commenting on the trip. Those who did try to frame it in terms of realpolitik. 

Speaking on MSNBC last week, Delaware Senator Chris Coons responded to a question about Biden's campaign promise to make Saudi Arabia a "pariah" for its human rights violations, notably the murder at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, compared with his decision as president to visit the leader who allegedly ordered the killing.  

"One of the things that have changed since the campaign, has changed in recent months, is that Russia is committing daily human rights violations, atrocities in Ukraine against thousands of Ukrainian civilians," he said.  

"And one other thing that's changed— the strain, the pressure on our key European allies and partners because oil and gas prices continue to rise," he continued. 

"I respect that the president made a hard decision, that he needs to go to the Gulf to meet with I think nine different heads of state at this GCC meeting in Saudi Arabia and sit down and have a conversation about security, about Iran, about Israel, about the region, and yes about human rights," Coons added.

The few progressives who spoke up about the trip had a much more discouraging assessment. 

After Biden completed his trip Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders said he thought the trip to Saudi Arabia was a bad idea.  

"You have a leader of the country who was involved in the murder of a Washington Post journalist. I don't think that type of government should be rewarded with a visit by the president of the United States," said Sanders, speaking on ABC's This Week with George Stephanopoulos. 

Prior to Biden's trip, Sanders, along with Massachusetts Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey issued a joint statement calling on an end to the US involvement in the war in Yemen, a statement he tweeted during Biden's trip.

During and after Biden's trip, Michigan Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib tweeted about Israeli crimes against Palestinians.  

After the trip, she added, "The reality of Israel's apartheid government, supported by billions in unconditional American funding, cannot be denied. We will not allow the President’s visit to whitewash the brutality of the occupation and ethnic cleansing Palestinians must live with every day."

For their part, the few Republicans who commented on the trip tended to push for further normalisation between Israel and Saudi Arabia. 

Speaking with Jewish Insider prior to the visit, Senator Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky said, "Who wouldn't support normalising relations? I think anything that would go towards more recognition of Israel's status as a country would be good."