Fact Check: "US president must give a speech before AIPAC after he got elected"
What We Know
The claim that the U.S. president must give a speech before the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) after being elected is not substantiated by any legal or formal requirement. AIPAC is a lobbying group that advocates for pro-Israel policies in the United States, and while it traditionally invites presidents and presidential candidates to speak at its annual policy conference, attendance is not mandatory.
Historically, several presidents have addressed AIPAC, including Barack Obama, who spoke at the conference multiple times during his presidency, emphasizing the importance of U.S.-Israel relations (source-1). However, there is no official protocol that mandates a president to deliver a speech at this event after taking office.
In fact, the participation of presidents in AIPAC events has varied over the years, and some presidents have chosen not to attend or speak at the conference during their terms. For example, President Donald Trump did not attend AIPAC's conference in 2017, opting instead to deliver remarks via video (source-2).
Analysis
The assertion that a president must speak at AIPAC is misleading and lacks basis in law or established custom. While AIPAC is a significant platform for discussing U.S.-Israel relations, the decision to speak there is ultimately at the discretion of the sitting president.
The credibility of the sources supporting this claim is questionable, as they do not provide any evidence of a legal obligation or a formal requirement for presidential speeches at AIPAC. Instead, they reflect the tradition and practice of previous administrations, which have chosen to engage with AIPAC in various ways.
For instance, the remarks made by President Obama at AIPAC in 2012 and 2015 highlight his administration's commitment to Israel, but they do not imply any obligation for future presidents (source-1, source-4). Additionally, the varying attendance of presidents at AIPAC events further underscores the absence of a mandatory requirement.
Conclusion
Verdict: False. The claim that the U.S. president must give a speech before AIPAC after being elected is not supported by any legal or customary obligation. While it is a tradition for presidents to address AIPAC, attendance and participation are voluntary and at the discretion of the president.
Sources
- Remarks by the President at AIPAC Policy Conference - White House Archives
- Remarks at the 2020 AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. - Presidency.ucsb.edu
- AIPAC pressured the White House to adopt a more forceful ... - Illinois State University
- Remarks As Prepared for Delivery at AIPAC Annual ... - White House Archives
- Transcript: Obama's Speech at AIPAC - NPR
- Art of the Anecdote: Presidential Candidates' Speeches to AIPAC - New York Times
- US election: How AIPAC shapes American politics - Middle East Monitor
- Read Donald Trump's Speech to AIPAC - Time
