Greenville Reporter

North Carolina State Representative Gregory F. Murphy stated that Vice President Kamala Harris "refused" to follow Congressional protocol by not presiding over President Netanyahu’s address to Congress, "turning her back" on a key ally. He also expressed confusion about why Jewish voters would support the Democratic Party. Murphy made his statement in a July 26 post on X.

"VP Kamala Harris @VP refused to abide by Congressional protocol by presiding over @netanyahu President Netanyahu's address to Congress," said F. Murphy. "She is turning her back on our greatest ally in the Middle East. Why any Jew in this country would vote Democratic is beyond belief."

According to The New York Times, Vice President Kamala Harris missed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Congressional address due to a scheduling conflict. Several Democrats, including Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib, as well as Senators Jeff Merkley and Bernie Sanders, also chose not to attend, citing disagreements with Netanyahu’s actions in Gaza. Senator Chris Van Hollen and other Senate Democrats opted out. Representative Nancy Pelosi opted to meet with Israeli families affected by the October 7 Hamas attack instead of attending.

Rep. Greg Murphy's post | x

The Associated Press reported that Netanyahu spoke before Congress, pledging "total victory" against Hamas. During his address, Netanyahu highlighted the U.S.-Israel relationship. The event saw a boycott by numerous Democratic lawmakers and was met with protests outside the Capitol related to the Gaza war and its humanitarian effects.

Murphy is in his third term representing North Carolina’s Third Congressional District, which includes significant regions of Eastern North Carolina. He holds key positions on committees including the House Ways and Means Committee, the House Veterans Affairs Committee, and the Committee on House Administration. He also co-chairs the House GOP Doctors Caucus. With academic honors from Davidson College and the University of North Carolina’s School of Medicine, he is the sole practicing surgeon among current congressional members, according to House.gov.