The White House is facing a springtime of unrest, with Democrats getting more jittery about the tensions boiling up on college campuses, worried it could turn into political poison for the president.
Across the USA, pro-Palestinian protests are popping up on various campuses, leading to some heated confrontations involving local cops, students, and other demonstrators. Inside the White House, aides are gearing up for the possibility that President Joe Biden might face these demonstrations himself when he gives two commencement addresses in the coming weeks. There’s also this looming fear that things could get worse if the White House can't nail down a ceasefire deal in Gaza. More than 34,000 Palestinians have lost their lives in Israel’s tussle with Hamas, adding fuel to the fire. The campus scenes dominating the headlines pose a challenge for the White House. Republicans are quick to jump on anything that looks like disorder, painting Biden as not in control. But hey, there’s still some time before November rolls around, and who knows, maybe the tension eases up.
Biden has been vocal about condemning antisemitism on college campuses, and the White House hasn’t shied away from calling out individual student leaders for their remarks or for taking over college properties. But Biden himself hasn't directly addressed the matter publicly much, mostly leaving it to his aides to do the talking.
Some Democrats are scratching their heads, wondering if there's a way out of this mess and if Biden can handle the discontent fueling these protests. They worry that coming down too hard on the demonstrators might alienate those who are critical of U.S. support for Israel’s actions against Hamas.
As colleges gear up for summer break, there's an expectation that the protests might reach a boiling point. Biden’s team is prepped for disruptions during his graduation speeches, but they’re feeling pretty confident in handling them, given the routine disruptions Biden already faces on the regular.
Republicans are capitalizing on the chaos, linking it to what they see as unrest on the southern border, skyrocketing inflation, and global conflicts. And there’s a growing concern among Democrats that the upcoming summer convention in Chicago could be another headache for the president.
What happens next largely depends on whether the White House can broker a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. That's seen as a crucial step in calming the protests in the U.S., but so far, it's been tough going. Even if a deal does happen, it’s unlikely to completely ease the political pressure Biden’s facing.
The way Biden handles these disruptions matters a lot in terms of optics. But his team believes he's been handling them well, showing empathy and staying cool even when things get heated.
While Republicans are painting the protests as signs of a country spiraling out of control, Biden's camp is pushing back, emphasizing his support for peaceful protest while condemning violence. It’s a delicate balance, but one they believe they can strike.
However, the situation today is different from 2020, mainly because Biden is now in the big seat. And that’s raising some eyebrows about how he’s handling things.
Despite concerns, Biden’s team isn’t too worried about the protests affecting his reelection chances. They see the protesters as just a small part of the electorate, with bigger issues like the economy taking center stage for young voters.
Still, there's some unease on the left about how these protests might impact youth voter turnout in November. People like Rep. Robert Garcia are stressing the importance of getting young people to the polls.
Faiz Shakir thinks Biden needs to do more to connect with young people on a values level. He argues that showing strong conviction and explaining where he stands on these issues could go a long way in winning over voters.
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