Biden, Once a Bystander to ’60s Protests, Now Faces Criticism

President Biden Faces Challenges Amid Campus Protests Over Israel

As protests erupted at Columbia University over Israel’s war in Gaza, President Joe Biden found himself in a precarious position, navigating the treacherous waters of campus politics. The echoes of the 1960s protest movement, when students took over Hamilton Hall, reverberated as modern-day demonstrators occupied the same building.

While Mr. Biden expressed support for free speech rights, he condemned antisemitism directed at Jewish students. The president’s careful stance aimed to balance competing interests but drew criticism from both sides. Republicans accused him of not doing enough to quell the protests, while some Democrats urged him to take a more forceful stand against violence and hate speech on campuses.

The political implications for Mr. Biden are significant. The protests could further alienate the left wing of his party and bolster the Republican narrative of disarray under his leadership. However, Democratic strategists remain confident that young voters, a key constituency, will support the president on other critical issues.

As the academic year draws to a close, the campus unrest may subside, but the underlying tensions remain. Mr. Biden’s history as an institutionalist, shaped by his experiences during the protest movements of the 1960s, informs his approach to the current challenges. Despite his preference for making change within the system, the president must now confront the complexities of a new era of activism, one that demands a nuanced and decisive response.