House Speaker Mike Johnson made controversial remarks on Tuesday, drawing parallels between the protests on American university campuses and the events leading up to World War II in Germany. Speaking at a Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony at the Capitol, the Louisiana Republican compared the expulsion of Jewish faculty and students in Germany to the current climate on American campuses, which he described as “hostile places for Jewish students and faculty.”
Johnson expressed concern over what he called an “antisemitic virus” infecting American universities, where he claimed students are now known for attacking their Jewish peers with Palestinian flags. His remarks come amidst a wave of pro-Palestinian protests sweeping U.S. college campuses, prompting President Biden to also condemn the hateful rhetoric and property damage that have occurred.
The House Speaker has made the pro-Palestinian protests a key focus, following the passage of a bill to send aid to Ukraine, which angered some members of his own party. Johnson has called for action to quell the protests, including potentially deploying the National Guard and holding congressional hearings with university administrators. He also introduced the Antisemitism Awareness Act to crackdown on antisemitism on campuses, sparking backlash from some on the far right.
In his speech, Johnson vividly described the horrors of recent attacks by Hamas against Israeli citizens, drawing parallels to the Holocaust and urging unity in the face of evil. As the debate over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to divide Democrats, Johnson’s remarks have sparked controversy and raised questions about the state of free speech and tolerance on college campuses.