Vice President Kamala Harris will not be co-presiding over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to a joint meeting of Congress, as she has opted to attend a previously scheduled event in Indiana. This decision has raised concerns, with House Speaker Mike Johnson stating that it may be “unprecedented” for the Vice President not to preside over such an event. However, there have been instances in the past where the President Pro Tempore has presided instead of the Vice President. For example, during Netanyahu’s last speech to Congress in 2015, Vice President Biden did not co-preside, and instead, Sen. Orrin Hatch stepped in. Similarly, when Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard addressed Congress in 2011, it was Boehner and Sen. Daniel Inouye who presided.
It is extremely rare for someone like Sen. Ben Cardin, the acting chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to preside over a joint meeting of Congress. The current President Pro Tempore of the Senate, Sen. Patty Murray, is not expected to co-preside with House Speaker Johnson during Netanyahu’s speech. The decision by Harris not to attend the event has sparked controversy, especially amid pro-Palestinian protests at the Capitol building. Following heightened security measures after the shooting of former President Trump, there is an elevated threat environment, leading to the installation of fences around the Capitol.
Many Democrats are choosing to boycott Netanyahu’s speech in protest of Israel’s actions in Gaza. This includes Sen. Ben Cardin, who will be co-presiding over the joint meeting of Congress. This is a rare occurrence, as typically, only the Vice President or the President Pro Tempore of the Senate presides over such events. However, there have been instances in the past when a non-VP or Senate President Pro Tempore has presided, such as late Sen. David Pryor during South Korean President Roh Tae-woo’s speech to Congress in 1989.
The decision by Vice President Harris to skip Netanyahu’s speech has added to the controversy surrounding the event. The absence of the Vice President from such an important meeting is unusual, but not unprecedented. The focus now shifts to Sen. Ben Cardin, who will be co-presiding over the proceedings, a role typically reserved for the Vice President or the Senate President Pro Tempore. As tensions rise amid pro-Palestinian protests and heightened security measures at the Capitol, the political significance of Netanyahu’s speech to Congress continues to grow.
While the absence of Vice President Harris at Netanyahu’s speech has sparked debate, it is not the first time a non-VP or Senate President Pro Tempore has presided over such a joint meeting of Congress. The historical precedence for such occurrences dates back to instances like Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s speech in 2011, where then-Vice President Biden did not co-preside. The upcoming joint meeting of Congress will see Sen. Ben Cardin co-presiding with House Speaker Johnson, further highlighting the unique circumstances surrounding this event.
