U.S. Delaware Sen. Chris Coons, who was confronted by a left-wing reporter on an Amtrak prepare from New York City to D.C., has responded to the video posted to social media.
“Sen. @ChrisCoons sat across from me on the train,” Aaron Maté posted to X, the platform previously generally known as Twitter, on Monday. “With Israel using US weapons to kill thousands of Palestinian civilians, including 4600+ children, I asked him why he refuses to call for a ceasefire.”
In the video, the Democratic senator asks Maté who he’s and who he works for. Maté identifies himself as a journalist working for The Grayzone, whose X profile describes itself as “Independent news and investigative journalism on politics and empire.”
“Senator, I’m sorry to put you on the spot,” Maté says because the recording begins. “Then don’t,” Coons responds.
Maté continues, asking, “Why not call for a cease-fire in Gaza?”
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Sen. Chris Coons will be seen being questioned in a video throughout an Amtrak journey from NYC to D.C. (Aaron Maté/Politically+/TMX)
Coons then tells Maté they’re in a “quiet car” on the prepare, which Amtrak’s web site says “guests are asked to limit conversation and speak in subdued tones.”
When Maté continues to query the senator, Coons responds by repeatedly saying, “Please, stop,” including, “You are bothering me and everyone else around here.”
Coons informed Maté the prepare was not an acceptable place to interview him, saying what Maté was doing was not “professional journalism.”
“Aaron, please stop, or I’m gonna have you thrown off this train,” Coons stated.
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Chris Coons in Warsaw, Poland, on Feb. 21, 2022. (Mateusz Wlodarczyk/NurPhoto through Getty Images)
Smoke rises close to the al-Wafa Rehabilitation hospital in Gaza City, Gaza on Oct. 24, 2023. (Ali Jadallah/Anadolu through Getty Images)
“As Senator Coons said yesterday afternoon, he believes the whole world should unite in opposition to terrorism following Hamas’ massacre of Israeli civilians on October 7,” a spokesperson for Sen. Coons stated in an announcement. “While Senator Coons does not support a ceasefire, he has repeatedly made clear that he supports humanitarian pauses to allow for assistance deliveries to Gaza, including hospitals, and has urged the Israeli government to target their campaign against Hamas. He also has repeatedly pushed for the swift release of the hostages Hamas continues to hold.”
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A subsequent X submit from Maté says he adopted Amtrak guidelines.
“I didn’t accost him, I questioned him (in a quiet voice, because it was the Quiet Car) about his refusal to back a Gaza ceasefire. And he did have me thrown off the train,” Maté stated.
