The White House responded on April 25 to House Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) call to send the National Guard troops to deal with pro-Palestine protests on college campuses, saying it sees this as a state issue.
“That is something that is under the governors,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters aboard Air Force One. “That is something for the governors to decide.”
According to the press secretary, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul visited Columbia University recently and indicated the governor has not requested the Biden administration’s assistance in the form of troops.
Ms. Jean-Pierre declined to comment on whether or not President Joe Biden had been contacted by the House speaker.
However, she reaffirmed the deployment of military personnel to any campus would not be considered without a request from the governor.
In addition, she did not comment on whether President Biden, if questioned, would support the deployment of the National Guard.
Instead, she cited a statement issued by the White House on April 21, which marked Passover.
“He said that anti-Semitism, basically, is wrong and we should call that out and there is no place for hate or hateful rhetoric or any type of violence,” Ms. Jean-Pierre said.
Encampments have emerged on the campuses of numerous universities as a result of pro-Palestinian demonstrations sparked by Israel’s military retaliation against Hamas’ attacks from Oct. 7.
On April 17, the demonstrations broke out at Columbia University before spreading to Yale University, New York University, and other institutions.
On April 18, New York police detained more than 100 pro-Palestinian demonstrators on the Columbia University campus. The following day, protesters resumed their activities despite widespread arrests and suspensions.
Similar protests have spread to other college campuses across the country, prompting growing calls from Republicans for the administration to dispatch National Guard troops.
During a visit to Columbia on April 24, Mr. Johnson vowed to call Biden directly to demand that he take action as protesters shouted him down, calling the situation on campus “dangerous.”
“If this is not contained quickly and if these threats and intimidation are not stopped, there is an appropriate time for the National Guard,” he said.
“We’re standing here at one of America’s preeminent academic institutions, where the cherished traditions of this university are being overtaken by radical and extreme ideologies,” he said.
When questioned about what his message was to the students in the encampments, Mr. Johnson said: “Go back to class. Stop wasting your parents’ money.”
“The madness has to stop,” Mr. Johnson said, his voice rising above the murmurs of dissent in the crowd. “We cannot allow such hatred and anti-Semitism to flourish on our campuses.”
The representatives joined Mr. Johnson’s call for civility and a change in leadership for the university, and for Hamas to surrender and end the conflict.
At the end of his prepared comments, Mr. Johnson said: “To every Jewish student listening to us, no matter where you are around the country, you have my word.
“The U.S. House of Representatives will do everything in our power to ensure that you are safe. You can freely practice your faith. And you can go to school, just like everybody else.”
