NEW YORK — House Speaker Mike Johnson says he thinks the president should call in the National Guard to calm the anti-Israel protests on college campuses if they fail to diminish on their own.
On Wednesday, Mr. Johnson and several other House Republican lawmakers visited Columbia University where tensions over protests have Jewish students saying they feel threatened and intimidated.
Columbia and students from its sister school, Barnard College, erected a tent city on the campus green, protesting Columbia’s investments in companies tied to Israel.
Similar protests have erupted on campuses across the country.
“My intention is to call President Biden after we leave here and share with him what we have seen with our own two eyes and demand that he take action,” said Mr. Johnson, Louisiana Republican.
“There is executive authority that’d be appropriate if this is not contained quickly, and if these threats and intimidation are not stopped, there is an appropriate time for the National Guard,” he said, adding that “we have to bring order to these campuses. We cannot allow this to happen around the country. We are better than this.”
Sen. Josh Hawley, Missouri Republican, and a group of Republican senators led by Tom Cotton of Arkansas, also have urged Mr. Biden to mobilize the National Guard, citing threats against Jewish students.
“I urge you to similarly mobilize the National Guard and other necessary authorities to protect Jewish American students on Columbia University’s campus and any other campus where Jewish students are at risk,” Mr. Hawley wrote.
“’Never again’ means never again,” he said, citing a phrase often associated with the lessons of the Holocaust.
The Washington Times reached out to the White House but did not immediately hear back.
• Valerie Richardson contributed to this report.