White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that President Joe Biden has no plans to visit any of the pro-Gaza protests happening at universities across the country, despite calls from lawmakers like Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA). Khanna suggested during a CBS interview that Biden should visit campuses to address the escalating violence at some protests and show empathy for the people of Gaza. Lawmakers from both parties, including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), have already visited campuses during the protests.
During a press briefing on Monday, Jean-Pierre faced questions about the protests and reiterated the administration’s stance on the issue. She criticized the vandalism, trespassing, and disruptions that led Columbia University to cancel its 2024 commencement ceremony, stating that such actions do not align with peaceful protests as the president has encouraged. Jean-Pierre also declined to comment on why the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department reportedly did not intervene in protests at George Washington University.
Despite the on-campus demonstrations, President Biden has maintained that they are not influencing his views on Israel’s military operations in Gaza. The full briefing can be watched in the video below.
