Ro Khanna says Joe Biden should visit college campuses amid protests

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) said Sunday that President Biden “should and will” visit college campuses amid the ongoing pro-Palestinian protests roiling the country.

Host Margaret Brennan asked Khanna on “Face the Nation” if the ongoing protests were becoming a “distraction” from the issues they were protesting about. She also noted that Khanna has been to several college campuses in recent days to speak with students as protests continue across the country.

“No, I don’t think so. I mean, in Wisconsin, the issues that came up first were abortion rights. Secondly, the cost of living and what the president was going to do about student loans and housing and the rent. Gaza emerged,” he said.

“But you know, one of the conversations in Madison with Jewish Americans and Arab Americans was extraordinarily civil, thoughtful and constructive. So I think on many campuses, there are 4,000 of them in the United States, there is really a constructive dialogue going on,” he added.

Brennan then asked Khanna why Biden was not involved in these conversations.

“I think the president should and will appear on campuses,” Khanna responded.

Khanna went on to say that the university protests resulted in an “awakening” in Washington regarding the Israel-Hamas war.

“Look, everyone from the president on down is aware that young people are upset about what’s happening in the Middle East. And I… I think there’s been an awakening in Washington that this war has to end, that too many people are dying. And if you look at the president’s language, it has certainly changed in the last six months. Now, some of us want there to be consequences,” Khanna said.

Biden addressed the ongoing college protests at the White House on Thursday, saying violent protests are “not protected” while defending the right to peacefully demonstrate. He also condemned anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, saying there was “no place for hate speech or violence of any kind.”

The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment on Khanna’s comments.