President Joe Biden has stayed quiet amidst student protests and the subsequent police interventions, while Republicans seek to leverage the unrest on college campuses regarding the conflict in Gaza against Democrats.
Tensions have been escalating on campuses as some protestors refuse to dismantle encampments, leading administrators to resort to law enforcement for clearance, resulting in clashes that have garnered widespread attention.
However, Biden has refrained from addressing the issue publicly since his condemnation of “antisemitic protests” and his statement regarding understanding the situation with Palestinians over a week ago.
While the White House has faced inquiries from journalists, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated on Wednesday that Biden is closely monitoring the situation. She remarked that some protests have crossed the line from free speech to unlawful behavior, citing the forcible occupation of buildings like at Columbia University.
Biden has never been a proponent of protesting, having begun his political career in a different era, notably during his time at law school when campuses were roiled with dissent over the Vietnam War. He has often emphasized the value of compromise over fervent activism.
Despite the administration’s criticism and Biden’s stance on not acceding to protesters’ demands to cut off U.S. support for Israel, Republicans have blamed Democrats for the unrest and utilized it as a backdrop for their press conferences.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, called for Biden to denounce the disorder, highlighting Republican visits to campuses like Columbia and George Washington University to engage with protesters.
Former President Donald Trump also weighed in, criticizing Biden’s silence on the matter and portraying him as absent during a campaign event in Wisconsin.
However, some Democratic voices argue that this tactic of blaming Democrats for unrest has been tried before during protests over George Floyd’s murder, and it was ultimately rejected by the public as fearmongering.
Apart from condemning antisemitism, the White House has been reticent to directly address the issue, deflecting questions during press briefings.
Biden is scheduled to visit Morehouse University in Atlanta on May 19 to deliver the commencement address.
Associated Press writer Adriana Gomez Licon in Miami contributed to this report.
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