Biden not confident of peaceful 2024 election; Trump visits Georgia alongside Governor Brian Kemp: Live

Democrats fear Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is escalating tensions in the Middle East in order to influence the U.S. election.

This past week, Israel has increased its attack on Lebanon, targeting the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah, and vowed to make Iran “pay” for its recent missile attack.

Democratic Senator Christ Murphy, of Connecticut told CNN he fears Netanyahu is being strategic in launching attacks right before the November election.

Ariana Baio reports.

President Joe Biden on Friday warned that he could not guarantee that the coming presidential election and transition period would be a peaceful one during his first appearance in the White House press briefing room since taking office 1,353 days ago.

Asked if he has confidence that the 2024 election would be both free and fair as well as peaceful, Biden told reporters he has confidence that the November 5 election will be “free and fair” but he demurred on the latter, citing previous actions by his predecessor, former president Donald Trump.

“The things that Trump has said and the things that he said last time out when he didn’t like the outcome of the election were very dangerous,” Biden said.

Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC.

President Joe Biden was asked in the White House briefing room whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was delaying a diplomatic agreement in the Gaza conflict to influence the US election.

The president responded: “No administration has helped Israel more than I have. ... And whether [Netanyahu is] trying to influence the election or not, I don’t know, but I’m not counting on that.”

President Joe Biden on the presidential election: “I'm confident it will be free and fair. I don't know whether it will be peaceful. The things that Trump has said, and the things he said last time... were very dangerous.”