Biden Administration Reportedly Attempted to Oust Netanyahu After October 7 Attacks

Ilan Goldenberg, a former Biden administration official, admitted in multiple interviews that after the October 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack, U.S. officials discussed strategies to remove Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from power. Goldenberg revealed that the Biden administration considered leveraging President Biden's temporary popularity in Israel and Netanyahu's declining poll numbers to force political change, potentially through means that were not strictly democratic. Discussions reportedly included pressuring Netanyahu to adopt U.S. policies—such as ending the war and negotiating hostage releases—or, if he did not comply, attempting to trigger new elections by destabilizing Israeli politics. The deliberations reflected frustration within the White House over Israel's handling of the conflict and a desire to see a leadership shift, especially after the collapse of an early hostage deal with Hamas. These revelations have raised concerns among supporters of Israel and defenders of democratic sovereignty about U.S. intervention in allied nations' domestic affairs.