Backlash Over White House Photo Exposing U.S. Troops In Israel

The White House is facing intense criticism after a social media blunder that may have compromised the identities of U.S. soldiers stationed in Israel. A now-deleted Instagram post featured President Joe Biden shaking hands with American troops, which quickly sparked outrage across various platforms. This incident raises serious questions about the protocols in place for protecting the identities of military personnel in sensitive situations.

In the controversial post, which was shared on X (formerly Twitter) by Sam Shoemate, a self-identified intelligence analyst, Biden was seen with American troops amidst U.S. and Israeli flags. The accompanying caption stated that the president had met with first responders to express gratitude for their courage in the face of the recent Hamas attacks. This seemingly innocent gesture has led to significant backlash.

The post was reportedly live for about an hour, accumulating hundreds of thousands of views before it was removed by the White House's social media team. Shockingly, the original image did not obscure the faces of the soldiers, which could have put their safety at risk. Shoemate's subsequent post on X included black boxes over the faces of the troops, highlighting the failure to protect their identities.

The Whitehouse media team shared this picture last night (I added the black boxes) without blurring or censoring the faces of the “Delta Force” (CAG) operator’s faces. They deleted it an hour later after hundreds of thousands had already viewed it.

This is a massive failure on… pic.twitter.com/ROegvYWzit

— Sam Shoemate (@samosaur) October 19, 2023

Despite efforts to locate the deleted image on Instagram, Newsweek found that a broken Facebook link retained the same caption as Shoemate's screenshot, indicating the post's visibility before its removal. The situation prompted discussions about operational security and the responsibilities of public figures in safeguarding sensitive information.

Additionally, there were claims that the soldiers captured in the image belonged to Delta Special Operations forces, although these assertions remain unverified by Newsweek. Jack Posobiec, an editor from the conservative outlet Human Events, remarked on X that Biden had effectively doxxed the special forces team sent to Israel to assist in hostage situations, although he did not provide any accompanying images.

The White House has yet to respond to requests for comment regarding this incident. When contacted, the Department of Defense directed inquiries to the National Security Council, indicating the seriousness of the issue at hand.

The Department of Defense has increased its military presence in Israel following the October 7 attacks by Hamas, signaling the ongoing tensions in the region. Reports suggest that the Pentagon has dispatched Special Operations forces to support intelligence efforts in rescuing hostages held by Hamas.

On October 19, Biden became the first sitting U.S. president to visit Israel during wartime. His visit included meetings with Israeli leaders, first responders, and families of victims from the October 7 attack. During his discussions, Biden urged Israeli officials to avoid letting anger dictate their response to the attacks, reflecting on the broader implications of military action.

As tensions escalate, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the movement of the U.S.S. Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group to the eastern Mediterranean, a strategic move aimed at deterring further hostilities in the region. This includes deploying additional Air Force attack planes to bolster military capabilities.

Biden's visit and the accompanying remarks serve as a reminder of the delicate balance required in international relations and military operations. His cautionary words about not allowing rage to guide decisions echo historical lessons learned from previous conflicts.