The White House criticized Rep. Cori Bush’s (D-Mo.) recent remarks as “inflammatory” after she vowed to retaliate against a prominent pro-Israel lobbying group for its role in her primary defeat.
Bush, who lost the Democratic primary to St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell, expressed her frustration in a speech on Tuesday night, stating, “As much as I love my job, all they did was radicalize me, and now they should be afraid.” She went on to warn, “They’re about to see this other Cori, this other side,” and declared, “AIPAC, I’m coming to tear your kingdom down!”
The United Democracy Project, a super PAC linked to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), played a remarkable role in funding Bell’s campaign in what became a costly and intense primary battle, partly focused on Bush’s views on Israel and the Gaza conflict.
United States Representative Cori Bush’s attack on AIPAC prompts criticism from the White House
Bush has been a vocal critic of Israel and AIPAC, labeling the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict as “Israel’s ethnic cleansing campaign” and introducing a resolution for de-escalation and a cease-fire shortly after Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel.
When asked about Bush’s pledge to confront AIPAC, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that President Biden condemns such “divisive” and “inflammatory” language.
Jean-Pierre emphasized the president’s stance on reducing political rhetoric, especially after the recent assassination attempt on a former president. She stressed the importance of being cautious with language, noting that this type of rhetoric is “incredibly unhelpful” and counterproductive in political discourse.
Bush’s defeat marks a remarkable moment, as she is the second member of the “squad” to lose a primary this cycle, following Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.), who also faced criticism for his outspoken stance against Israel in recent months.
