The anti-Israel protests roiling college campuses loom as an ill omen for President Biden’s bid for a second term, as far as Sen. Bernard Sanders is concerned.
The Vermont Independent compared the president’s situation to that of former President Lyndon Johnson, who opted not to run for reelection in 1968 against the backdrop of students protesting the Vietnam War.
“This may be Biden‘s Vietnam,” Mr. Sanders said Thursday on CNN. “Lyndon Johnson in many respects was a very, very good president domestically he brought forth some major pieces of legislation. He chose not to run in ‘68 because of opposition to his views in Vietnam.”
Mr. Sanders added that “I worry very much that President Biden is putting himself in a position where he has alienated not just young people, but a lot of the Democratic base in terms of his views on Israel and this war.”
Senator Bernie Sanders says the pro-Palestinian campus protests “may be Biden‘s Vietnam.”
Fair comparison? Hear @smerconish‘s answer. pic.twitter.com/lzUnwgdp0R
— CNN This Morning with Kasie Hunt (@CNNThisMorning) May 3, 2024
The senator’s comments come with Mr. Biden under increasing pressure from his party’s left wing to end military aid to Israel and support a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas War.
Israel declared war on Hamas after the terrorist group killed 1,200 Israeli civilians and others in an Oct. 7 surprise attack.
Mr. Sanders said the pro-Palestinian protesters upending university campuses ahead of graduation “are out there not because they are pro-Hamas, they are out there because they are outraged by what the Israeli government is now doing in Gaza.”
Those who might disagree include Republicans like Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who has condemned the “antisemitic, pro-Hamas protests that are unfolding on college campuses.”
Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt reposted a video clip showing chants by anti-Israel activists outside Columbia University, including “Never forget the 7th of October!”
“Listen to their words. These are pro-Hamas activists. These are pro-hate advocates,” said Mr. Greenblatt in an April 19 post on X.
Mr. Biden broke a weeklong silence Thursday on the widespread demonstrations, condemning the “chaos” on U.S. campuses.
“Destroying property is not a peaceful protest, it’s against the law,” Mr. Biden said from the White House. “Vandalism, trespassing, breaking down windows, shutting down campuses and forcing the cancellation of classes and graduation, none of this is a peaceful protest.”
More than 2,000 protesters, many of them unaffiliated with universities, have been arrested at U.S. campuses in the last two weeks.
• Jeff Mordock contributed to this report.