We reported on the story that Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna (CA-17) told of being "detained" in the West Bank.
As we noted, the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) disputed Khanna's claim that they were involved in any "detention" of Khanna's group, and said they helped resolve the situation when they arrived. The Israeli police also said that this was a "closed military zone" (CMZ) area where civilians weren't allowed.
READ MORE: After Imploding on Platner, Ro Khanna Claims He Was 'Detained' by Israeli Settlers in West Bank
Now the Israeli Ambassador to the U.S., Michael Leiter, has weighed in and leveled Rep. Khanna.
Rep. Ro Khanna said his office alerted the U.S. embassy in Israel of his visit to the West Bank, where he said he was detained by Israeli settlers, but Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Dr. Michael Leiter tells @margbrennan, “There was not an alert. There was a question about visas,… pic.twitter.com/CYpr2vaCe7
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) July 12, 2026
Leiter explained how they reached out to Khanna when they found out he was coming, offering to have him meet with survivors of the October 7 attack, as well as see the issues Israel had to deal with at the borders. Leiter said Khanna blew them off. "He ignored that, and he decided to coordinate his trip, not with Israel, but with Palestinian activists," Leiter declared. Maybe this wouldn't have happened had he coordinated with the Israeli government, Leiter asserted.
Khanna has claimed they did alert the government. Leiter said all they did was ask a question about visas, and that they did not coordinate anything.
Leiter really laid Khanna out on the timing of this story.
"You know to have this incident on Wednesday and wait to release it until Saturday. Maybe this had more something to do with his support of Graham Platner beforehand, and the difficulties he had with that? Trying to shift the focus to something else, perhaps? I'm asking a question."
Leiter also took a jab at Khanna, seeming to use this as a way to "declare a presidential run." That made even Margaret Brennan laugh. But that's what we have here, with all the media and Khanna making sure to talk about 2028.
It doesn't sound like Leiter or Israel is very worried about the "threat" Khanna made to Israel. Khanna opined that "it wasn't a good idea to detain long-shot presidential candidates,” and “not how you’re going to build good will with the next American president, whoever that is.” Doesn't look like that cowed Leiter in the slightest.
But Khanna decided to throw in a response to Leiter and that clip, when he just should have stopped digging.
If a US Congressman & American citizens were detained illegally by settlers & the military of any other nation, the Ambassador would beg the American people for forgiveness and take action against the perpetrators. The height of arrogance. https://t.co/SsvE2GU2Rw
— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) July 12, 2026
If a US Congressman & American citizens were detained illegally by settlers & the military of any other nation, the Ambassador would beg the American people for forgiveness and take action against the perpetrators. The height of arrogance.
If what Leiter is saying is true and you're wandering around in a restricted area without having alerted anyone, especially in the wake of October 7th, yeah, that's not a good thing. And the IDF is claiming they actually resolved the situation, yet Khanna is blaming them.
No, "the height of arrogance" was trying to palm off Platner on us. And calling yourself a "longshot presidential candidate." And comparing yourself to Teddy Roosevelt.
This new effort isn't going any better than the Platner effort.
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