WASHINGTON—President Biden stood firm, gripping both sides of his lectern, addressing a solemn crowd of Holocaust survivors and their descendants in a marbled atrium.
“People are forgetting that Hamas unleashed this terror,” he declared, referencing the Oct. 7 terrorist attack. “It was Hamas that brutalized Israelis, took hostages, and continues to do so. We will not forget, nor have you.” Biden’s speech at the U.S. Capitol's annual Holocaust remembrance ceremony came at a critical juncture for his foreign policy and political future. Israeli troops had recently entered Rafah in southern Gaza, breaching what Biden had termed a red line. Cease-fire talks in Cairo teetered on the edge, with Hamas accepting truce terms that Israel deemed intolerable. Anti-Israel demonstrations on numerous campuses had led to police interventions and canceled events, further dividing Democrats between pro-Palestinian progressives and the pro-Israel establishment.
Against this backdrop, Biden's speech carried broader implications beyond the conflict's resolution. The war and protests had polarized Democrats, and Biden's perceived slow and indecisive response had angered both sides. Images of unrest had undermined his image as a unifying, values-driven leader. Many Democrats feared that the protests had exacerbated Biden's existing political vulnerabilities and posed a serious threat to his re-election prospects.
Biden drew a parallel between the current protests and the conditions that led to Hitler's murder of six million Jews, condemning the surge of antisemitism in America and worldwide. He highlighted instances of hate speech and violence targeting Jews, including incidents on college campuses. Biden's denunciation marked his strongest stance yet against the protests, which had resulted in over 2,000 arrests on more than 40 campuses, primarily organized by groups sympathetic to Hamas and opposed to Israel's legitimacy.
The protests, though unpopular according to polls, had significant support among young voters and Democrats, presenting a challenge for Biden. Some of his allies believed the protests represented a fringe element and were being exaggerated by Republicans to paint a picture of disorder. Surveys indicated that while most voters were not overly concerned about the situation in Gaza, a significant portion of young voters and Democrats supported the protests.
Despite his focus on his criminal trial, former President Trump continued to campaign on a platform of law and order, criticizing Biden for his handling of the protests. Trump's narrative emphasized strength and control, contrasting it with what he portrayed as Biden's weakness and indecision. Democrats were concerned that this portrayal of a nation in chaos could resonate with voters and benefit Trump, who had always emphasized a strong leadership style.
Biden's reluctance to fully condemn the protesters, whom he likely considered ideological allies, drew comparisons to Trump's response to the 2017 alt-right rally in Charlottesville. Biden, inspired to run for president in part by Charlottesville, had positioned himself as a defender of democracy and freedom against authoritarianism and bigotry.
As he concluded his speech, Biden urged vigilance, emphasizing the fragility of civilization and the need to protect it. His words echoed through the marble hall, a reminder of the ongoing struggle to uphold democracy and freedom.