President Joe Biden is expected to issue a strong condemnation of antisemitism during a ceremony to commemorate Holocaust victims at the Capitol. The timing of this event comes as violence and hateful rhetoric toward Jews have escalated due to the Hamas attack on Israel and the war in Gaza. Pro-Palestinian protests, some of which have included antisemitic chants and threats, have been occurring on college campuses across the country. Biden’s remarks will address the rise of antisemitism globally and domestically, particularly since the deadly Hamas attack on October 7.
Biden’s press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, stated that the President will honor the memory of the 6 million Jews killed in the Holocaust and emphasize the importance of learning from this dark period in history to prevent such atrocities from happening again. Biden will also address the horrors of the recent Hamas attack and the alarming increase in antisemitism in the U.S. since October 7. The President’s speech is not expected to touch on the upcoming presidential election, despite criticism from former President Donald Trump for Biden’s handling of antisemitism issues.
The event at the Capitol, hosted by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, will feature remarks from House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. The protests on college campuses have posed a challenge for Biden, whose coalition includes many young voters critical of his public support for Israel. Biden’s administration is taking steps to combat antisemitism, including sending letters to all school districts and colleges outlining examples of hate speech that could lead to federal investigations. The Department of Homeland Security is also working to educate schools about resources to promote campus safety.
In addition to the Capitol event, the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights is taking steps to combat antisemitism on college campuses and the State Department’s special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism is meeting with technology companies to address online hateful content. Doug Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris and the first Jewish spouse of a nationally elected American leader, met with Jewish college students about the administration’s efforts to combat antisemitism. Trump’s campaign released a video on Israel’s Holocaust remembrance day contrasting the responses of presidential candidates on antisemitism, with Biden emphasizing the need for care in Gaza and Trump pledging to stand with Jewish people. Biden’s campaign spokesman affirmed the President’s commitment to combating antisemitism and ensuring the safety of the Jewish community.
