Staff Reports
The White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, avoided answering questions on Wednesday about President Biden’s decision not to talk about the anti-Israel protests at college campuses. Mr. Biden hasn’t spoken about the turmoil at universities across the country since April 22. He labeled the actions of the demonstrators as “antisemitic” but also criticized those who didn’t show empathy for those living in Gaza.
White House defends Biden’s silence on campus chaoshttps://t.co/4Eh6ZqlMvZ pic.twitter.com/WOXohtpX7B
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) May 2, 2024
The White House issued a statement on Tuesday condemning the chaos, but it was attributed to an administration spokesperson rather than the president. When asked about Mr. Biden’s silence on the issue, Ms. Jean-Pierre focused on discussing the president’s efforts to combat antisemitism. She emphasized that the president has taken numerous actions to deal with antisemitism, more than any other administration before.
Ms. Jean-Pierre mentioned the importance of students and communities feeling safe and emphasized the administration’s strong stance against antisemitism. She stated that Mr. Biden has been regularly updated on the campus protests and that he and his team were closely monitoring the situation.
She also condemned the seizure of campus buildings, stating that such tactics were not peaceful and should not disrupt the academic experience of other students. However, she did not provide any insight into whether outside agitators were contributing to the chaos, stating that it was something for local law enforcement to address.
The press secretary did not address the issue of outside influence, stating that she couldn’t speak on that matter at the time. It is clear that the Biden administration is closely following these developments and ensuring a strong stance against antisemitism and maintaining safety on college campuses.
