Biden on Israel trip: ‘I came to get something done. I got it done’

President Biden on Wednesday touted the tangible outcome of his trip to Israel as he flew back to the United States, acknowledging the risks that came with making the visit.

“Look, I came to get something done. I got it done,” Biden told reporters aboard Air Force One during a refueling stop in Germany. 

“If I didn’t — wasn’t able to make it into Israel … I’d get it done,” he added. “Not many people thought we could get this done, and not many people want to be associated with failure.”

Biden said there was a “lengthy” discussion among his advisers about whether to make the trip to Israel.

“Because had we gone and this failed, then, you know, the United States failed, Biden’s presidency fails, et cetera, which would be a legitimate criticism,” he said.

Biden traveled Wednesday to Israel for what amounted to a roughly seven-hour trip to Tel Aviv in the aftermath of Hamas terrorist attacks that killed more than 1,400 Israelis. Scores of Palestinians have been killed in ensuing strikes on Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas.

Biden met with Israeli leaders and community members in a major show of support for the country. A planned trip to Jordan to meet with Jordanian, Egyptian and Palestinian leaders was scrapped in the wake of a hospital explosion in Gaza.

Still, Biden announced an agreement to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza through the border with Egypt, and he said the United States would provide $100 million in aid to help affected and displaced civilians in Gaza and the West Bank.

The president spoke on the phone with Egypt President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi while on Air Force One to reach a deal to allow up to 20 trucks of humanitarian aid into Gaza, Biden said.

Biden is scheduled to deliver a prime-time address Thursday focused on the war between Israel and Hamas, as well as the ongoing war in Ukraine. The White House is expected this week to ask Congress for billions of dollars in funding to support both Israel and Ukraine.