The White House is trying to protect President Joe Biden from pro-Palestinian protesters who continue to disrupt his campaign rallies to express their outrage for his support for Israel’s war in Gaza.
The president’s campaign and security teams are making Biden’s event smaller, keeping exact details from the media until the last minute, and avoiding college campuses, according to NBC News.
Biden has been repeatedly interrupted by protesters on the campaign trail, who refer to him as ‘Genocide Joe’ for standing with Israel and Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu as they pursue their war in Gaza after the October 7th terrorist attacks organized by Hamas.
President Joe Biden speaks during an event on the campus of George Mason University in Manassas, Va
At least 14 different protesters interrupted a January event in Manassas, Virginia with Biden and First Lady Jill Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff.
Protesters shouted ‘Genocide Joe’ and ‘Ceasefire now or no vote’ and blaming him for supporting war crimes in Gaza as the president tried to talk about the need for abortion rights.
‘This is going to go on for a while. They’ve got this planned,’ a frustrated Biden said after he was repeatedly interrupted.
In Michigan in February, pro-Palestinian protesters shouted ‘f*** Joe Biden’ and chanted ‘Biden Biden can’t you see, you are on a killing spree’ when he was trying to meet with United Auto Workers.
While aides are trying to protect the president, smaller events further limit the president from engaging fully on the campaign trail.
Organizers for a massive fundraiser in New York City with President Biden and former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton are keenly aware of the challenge of shutting out protestors, discussing whether each guest should be vetted by a private security company, according to NBC.
The difficulties with protesters were further illustrated in New York City when protesters stormed the lobby of the NBC studio where he taped an appearance with late-night comedian Seth Meyers.
Harris has also been subject to multiple interruptions from protesters at her campaign events, prompting similar measures.
Biden’s approach to the ongoing war in Gaza has triggered many professionals in the Democratic party who believe Biden is siding too much with Israel, after he traveled to Israel and personally hugged Netanyahu after the attacks.
Former National Security Council spokesman for President Barack Obama Tommy Vietor criticized Biden for embracing a ‘hug Bibi’ approach with Netanyhu after the October 7th attacks.
‘I’ve thought the approach was a mistake from the beginning… because I think incredibly poorly of Netanyahu. He’s a corrupt, racist bad leader,’ he said during a podcast interview.