In April 1968, as students took over Hamilton Hall at Columbia University, Joe Biden was studying law and wearing sport coats, far removed from the protests and chanting around him. Now, as President, Biden is not just a bystander to modern-day campus protests but a target of their discontent, challenging him to navigate campus politics better than the administration of Lyndon B. Johnson did in 1968. While expressing support for free speech opposing his policies, Biden has condemned antisemitism directed at Jewish students but has largely stayed out of the fray personally.
The recent protests at Columbia University and other campuses across the country present political dangers to Biden, potentially alienating the left wing of his party and reinforcing the Republican narrative of disorder under his administration. Biden’s standing among voters under 30 has eroded, but Democratic strategists remain confident that young voters will turn out for him, citing other issues of importance to this demographic. The president must address the campus protests to retain support from young voters while avoiding alienating swing voters.
Biden’s struggle to find a message that fits his political needs is evident in his responses to the campus demonstrations, where he has tried to appeal to both sides. His ambivalence has been criticized by some Democrats and seized upon by Republicans to compare his remarks to those of Donald Trump after the Charlottesville rally in 2017. Republicans have blamed Biden for not doing more to quash the campus protests and have positioned themselves as defenders of harassed Jewish students.
Despite Republican efforts to capitalize on the protests for political gain, many Democratic politicians have denounced protests targeting Jewish students or resorting to violence. Some Democrats are calling for Biden to be more vocal against the violence and hate speech on campuses. Biden’s history with the youth protest movement of the 1960s has shaped his current approach, emphasizing his focus on institutional change over street demonstrations. He has been far apart from antiwar movements then and now, but he must navigate the complexities of modern protests with antisemitic undertones.
Biden faces the challenge of balancing the demands and concerns of different factions within the Democratic Party while addressing the broader political implications of the campus protests. He must find a way to appeal to young voters, who are key to his re-election chances, while also maintaining support among swing voters. Biden’s approach to the protests will be closely scrutinized by both his supporters and detractors, as he seeks to navigate the delicate political landscape of campus unrest and antisemitism. In this critical moment, Biden’s actions and responses will shape perceptions of his leadership and effectiveness in handling the challenges of the present day.
