President Biden on Tuesday claimed anti-Israel hecklers were “MAGA Republicans” after he was interrupted at least 10 times at a rally by demonstrators opposing his support for Israel's invasion of Gaza.
The 81-year-old president had given a speech announcing the results of the New Hampshire Republican primary hours earlier, but activists flipped the script on the event, his first joint campaign rally of 2024 with Vice President Kamala Harris. As a result, he became extremely irritated.
“Genocide Joe: How many children did you kill today?” a man holding a Palestinian flag yelled at Biden at a rally in Manassas, Virginia, that was supposed to focus on federal abortion rights.
Moments later, a female heckler shouted, “Israel is killing two mothers in an hour!”
Biden supporters drowned out the confusion by chanting, “Four more years!” and “Let's go, Joe!” during the president's 19-minute speech.
The continued series of interruptions follows more isolated instances of heckling at recent events and could foreshadow a trend in Biden campaign events heading into the November election.
Following the first two unrest by activists shaken by Israel's invasion of Gaza, after Hamas terrorists killed 1,200 people in a surprise attack on southern Israel on October 7, Biden said, “They feel deeply…'' “There is,” he said.
After the third upset, Mr. Biden said in a resigned tone.
“I think we'll have a couple more,” he told supporters in the 1,100-seat auditorium.
After being heckled for the sixth time, Biden added, “This is going to be going on for a while. They're planning this.”
Mr. Biden appeared frustrated, even though his likely opponent in the election, former President Donald Trump, is known to be an ardent supporter of Israel. The second heckler accused him of being a “MAGA Republican.”
“Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans, including women, are crying out loud,” Biden said before reassuring himself, adding, “Frankly, Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans, including the Speaker of the House, are screaming louder.” I'm desperate to move on,” he added. [on abortion]”
“Look, please, don't jump on me,” Biden said in an exasperated tone to the ninth heckler, who was apparently on the balcony.
Harris, who spoke in front of Biden, did not heckle. She immediately accused President Trump of creating a “medical crisis” and causing women to “miscarry in the bathroom.”
When Biden was able to deliver remarks during his own speech, he also criticized Trump on abortion.
“Remember, it was Donald Trump and his Supreme Court that took away women's rights and freedoms in America,” he said. “It was Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, all of you trying to restore those rights to American women.
“There will be a record number of votes cast in November,” the president said. “When we do that, we will teach Donald Trump a valuable lesson: don't mess with America's women unless you want to profit from it.”
The suspension of campaign events followed two recent large-scale pro-Palestinian marches to the White House and activists blocking entrances to airports and shopping malls in the Washington, D.C., area.
In November, thousands of protesters tore down the White House fence, pushed through the front gate and chanted “Damn Joe Biden!” On January 13, protesters threw baby dolls painted red along Pennsylvania Avenue and projected images of Biden with the words “Massacre Joe” written on nearby buildings.
