White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre refused to delve into recent large-scale anti-Semitic protests at some of America’s top schools in the wake of Hamas terrorists murdering 1,400 Israelis earlier this month.
Jean-Pierre was asked about the matter from Fox Business Network’s Grady Trimble after the recent protests and after some sentiment at some of the schools expressed support for the terrorists.
“I appreciate that the President respects First Amendment rights to protest, but does the President view anti-Israel protests and sentiment on college campuses as antisemitism?” Trimble asked.
“So, look, I’m not going to get into what’s happening across the country in — at different universities. I’m not going to get into the specifics,” she responded. “As the Admiral said, the First Amendment right — right? — that’s what something — a peaceful protest is really part of — part of our democracy, being able for folks to — to be able to express their feelings.”
“I’m not going to get into any, you know, specifics on that,” she continued. “The President has been very clear in wanting to make sure that Jewish Americans, wanting to make sure that Arab Americans, Muslims are protected here. That is what he believes in — that we — they have the right to live their lives and to feel protection and to feel like they’re able to be part of a community. The President has been very, very clear on denouncing any type of violence.”
“And so, as it relates to peaceful protesting, people have the right to do that,” she added. “But we’re just not going to get into blow by blows of what’s going on across the country.”
FBN's @Grady_Trimble: I know John Kirby addressed the protests on college campuses and I appreciate that the President respects First Amendment rights to protest. But does the President view anti-Israel protests and sentiment on college campuses as anti-Semitism?"
KJP: "So,… pic.twitter.com/NzgtER6GXt
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) October 23, 2023