Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) said Sunday that President Biden “should and will visit” college campuses amid the continued pro-Palestinian protests that have roiled the country.
Host Margaret Brennan asked Khanna on “Face the Nation” whether the ongoing protests were a “distraction” from the issues they were protesting. He also noted that Khanna has been visiting several university campuses in recent days to talk to students as protests continue across the United States.
“No, I don’t think so. I mean, the first issue that came up in Wisconsin was abortion rights. Second, the cost of living and what the president was going to do with student loans, housing costs, rent. Gaza. has arrived,” he said.
“But you know, one of the conversations I had with Jewish Americans and Arab Americans in Madison was very civil and thoughtful and constructive. So there are many of the 4,000 in the United States. “I think there’s a real constructive dialogue happening on campus,” he added.
Brennan then asked Khanna why Biden isn’t participating in those conversations.
“I think the president should be on campus, and I intend to do so,” Khanna replied.
Khanna went on to say that the university protests brought about an “awakening” in Washington regarding the Israel-Hamas war.
“Everyone knows that young people, from the president down, are outraged by what’s going on in the Middle East. And I think in Washington, we have to end this war, too many people are dying. And if you look at the president’s language, it’s definitely changed in the last six months. Some of us now want to see consequences. ” said Khanna.
Biden on Thursday addressed the ongoing campus protests at the White House, defending the right to peacefully demonstrate but saying violent protests are “not protected.” He also condemned anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, saying there was “no place for hate speech or violence of any kind.”
The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment on Khanna’s comments.
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