Democratic Sen. Chris Coons, who represents President Joe Biden’s state of Delaware, had a heated confrontation with a far-left journalist about the Israel-Hamas war that resulted in the reporter being thrown off the train.
Coons, 60, is chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee and became Biden’s permanent successor in Washington after being named vice president.
Aaron Mate, a reporter for left-wing outlet The Gray Zone, has vehemently called for a ceasefire – which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected – following Israel’s response to the massacre of 1,400 Israelis by Hamas on October 7.
Mate posted a video on an Amtrak train with Coons on XMonday and decided to question him about why he wouldn’t call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Coons asked, “Who are you?” and after Mate clarified that he was a reporter, he added, “This is a quiet car and you shouldn’t talk to me.”
Democratic Sen. Chris Coons, who represents President Joe Biden’s state of Delaware, had a heated confrontation with a far-left journalist about the Israel-Hamas war that apparently resulted in the reporter being thrown off the train
Sen. @ChrisCoons sat across from me on the train. As Israel uses US weapons to kill thousands of Palestinian civilians, including more than 4,600 children, I asked him why he refuses to call for a ceasefire: pic.twitter.com/uW7oBBX0Il
— Aaron Maté (@aaronjmate) November 13, 2023
Mate continues: “Children are dying.” “US weapons are killing children in Gaza.”
The senator replies, “Who are you?” Nice to meet you, Aaron. Please stop talking to me.’
The far-left reporter continues trying to get Coons to clarify his position while the senator asks an Amtrak employee for help.
‘Please stop. Please stop. Aaron, you are disturbing me and everyone around you. Sir, can I have some help here please? He’s bothering me while I’m trying to work.’
Coons finally gives in to Mate’s questioning.
“I will not call for a ceasefire,” he said. “I strongly support humanitarian pauses.” “I have called on the Israeli government to target its campaign against Hamas.”
However, Mate doesn’t give in and Coons threatens to throw him off the Amtrak shuttle.
“Aaron, please stop or I will have you thrown off this train.” I’m a senator, this is a quiet car. “You are violating the basic rules of our Amtrak operations, please stop.”
Aaron Mate, a reporter for left-wing outlet The Gray Zone, has vehemently called for a ceasefire – which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected – following Israel’s response to the massacre of 1,400 Israelis by Hamas on October 7
After questioning Senator Coons about his support of the Israeli massacres in Gaza, I was asked to move to another seat. I stuck to it. About 30 minutes later he walked past me. We didn’t exchange words. At the next stop, in Philadelphia, I was taken off the train. I assume that was… pic.twitter.com/Odbr36CJJx
— Aaron Maté (@aaronjmate) November 13, 2023
Coons finally gets up and walks away.
In a follow-up video, Mate claims he was eventually kicked off the Amtrak train.
“After questioning Senator Coons about his support of the Israeli massacres in Gaza, I was asked to move to another seat. “I stuck to it,” he said.
“About 30 minutes later he walked past me. We didn’t exchange words. At the next stop, in Philadelphia, I was taken off the train. I assume this was done at the behest of Sen. Coons.”
When contacted by the New York Post for comment on the matter, a spokesperson for Coons did not address Mate being kicked off the train but reiterated his position.
“As Senator Coons said this afternoon, he believes that after Hamas’ massacre of Israeli civilians on October 7, the entire world should unite in resistance to terrorism,” the spokesman said.
“Although Senator Coons does not support a ceasefire, he has repeatedly made it clear that he supports humanitarian pauses to allow aid to Gaza, including hospitals, and has called on the Israeli government to target its campaign against Hamas.”
“He has also repeatedly urged the rapid release of the hostages still held by Hamas,” the spokesman added.
has reached out to an Amtrak spokesperson for comment.
Mate and The Gray Zone are fiercely critical of Israel. Mate claims in a post
Mate and The Gray Zone are fiercely critical of Israel. Mate claims in a post
“Israel has always chosen occupation and domination over peace and security,” he wrote in another post.
He also claimed that he would “never forgive and never forget” a report on Palestinian deaths during the Israeli response to the October 7 attacks.
President Biden said late last week that there was “no possibility” for a ceasefire because of ongoing fighting in Gaza.