Joe Biden reacted to Iran’s strike on an Iraqi military base that houses U.S. military forces by saying he was not surprised, though he noted that he was reacting generally and details were still developing.
“What’s happening in Iraq and Iran today was predictable,” the former vice president, 77, said at a campaign fundraiser in the Philadelphia suburb of Gladwyne on Tuesday evening, according to a pool report. “Not exactly what’s happening, but the chaos that’s ensuing.”
Biden criticized President Trump’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and expressed worry about the effects resulting from the president’s ordered strike that killed Iranian Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani.
“Some of the things he’s done and said in the meantime have been close to ludicrous,” Biden said, mentioning Trump’s threat to target culturally significant sites. “I just pray to god as he goes through what’s happening, as we speak, that he’s listening to his military commanders for the first time, because, so far, that has not been the case.”
Later Tuesday evening, Biden said in a tweet that he would wait for more details before he reacted further.
“I’m going to hold off on commenting on the news tonight until we know more, but there is one thing I will say: Jill and I are keeping our troops and Americans overseas in our prayers,” Biden said.
I’m going to hold off on commenting on the news tonight until we know more, but there is one thing I will say: Jill and I are keeping our troops and Americans overseas in our prayers. We hope you’ll keep them in yours.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) January 8, 2020
Earlier Tuesday, Biden delivered a foreign policy speech in which he said Iran instead of Iraq.
“Iran’s parliament, Iran’s parliament voted to eject all Americans and coalition forces from the country,” Biden said Tuesday during the speech. On Sunday, the Iraqi parliament voted to expel U.S. troops, not Iran’s parliament.
