Biden declines Gaza protest visit despite Democratic ally’s urging

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said there are no plans for President Joe Biden to visit any of the pro-Gaza protests taking place at universities across the country despite calls for him to do so from several lawmakers, including Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA).

Khanna said during a Sunday interview with CBS that Biden “should and will get out there on campuses” after condemning escalating violence at some protests while simultaneously calling for empathy for the people of Gaza. Lawmakers from both parties, including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), have visited campuses amid the protests.

Jean-Pierre faced several questions about the protests during Monday’s press briefing, during which she continued that line of rhetoric.

Pressed on Columbia University’s decision to cancel its 2024 commencement ceremony following the on-campus protests, Jean-Pierre declared that “vandalism, trespassing, breaking windows, shutting down campuses, [and] forcing the cancellation of classes” do not mark peaceful protests, as the president had urged.

“It is unfortunate that a small group, a small group of people, went too far and cost their classmates this important event,” she added.

Jean-Pierre additionally declined to answer questions about why the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department had reportedly resisted calls from George Washington University to intervene in protests in the district.

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Just last week, Biden told reporters that the on-campus demonstrations were not changing his views on Israel’s military operations in Gaza.

You can watch Monday’s briefing in full below.