"Do you think I'm Santa Claus?": The moment Biden lost patience - and almost cut off Netanyahu

Brett McGurk's new book reveals that in spring 2024, Joe Biden nearly exploded with rage at Benjamin Netanyahu over the management of the war in Gaza. During a phone call, Biden snapped at Netanyahu, "Do you think I'm Santa Claus?" and threatened to cut off military aid. The boiling point was the attack on the WCK aid convoy on April 1. Iran, which launched a missile barrage, ultimately saved Netanyahu from Biden's wrath.

Brett McGurk's new book, "On the Brink," reveals an unprecedented description of the crisis in relations between Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu in spring 2024. According to the report, advisors in the Oval Office found President Biden on the verge of a rage explosion, furious over the conduct of the war in Gaza. During a phone call, Biden snapped at Netanyahu: "Bibi, man, what the hell are you doing? Do you think I'm Santa Claus? There's no Santa in Israel, buddy." Biden made clear he could cut off military aid to Israel at the snap of a finger. The boiling point was on April 1, when IDF forces mistakenly attacked a convoy and killed seven aid workers from the World Central Kitchen (WCK) organization. The president's wife, Jill Biden, left her husband a note on the bathroom mirror: "Bibi must stop." However, the unprecedented Iranian attack in April 2024 saved Netanyahu from Biden's wrath, as Biden immediately stood by Israel. After the threat was intercepted, Biden sought to restrain Netanyahu from responding in a way that would ignite a regional war, saying, "I just saved his ass." McGurk also describes a Sisyphean ceasefire negotiation process, ultimately signed with the help of Donald Trump and Steve Witkoff.