President Biden to Address Antisemitism at U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum Event
President Biden to Address Antisemitism at U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum Event
President Biden, who has faced criticism for his silence on recent college campus protests, is set to speak out against antisemitism next week at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum’s annual “days of remembrance” commemoration. The White House announced this decision on Wednesday, highlighting the president’s commitment to combatting the rising scourge of antisemitism.
While Mr. Biden’s spokesmen have condemned violence and antisemitism on campus, the president himself has been relatively quiet on the issue, drawing frustration from some Democrats and criticism from Republicans. However, next Tuesday, he will deliver the keynote address at the Holocaust museum’s event, where he will discuss the moral duty to combat antisemitism.
The White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, emphasized that the Biden-Harris administration had already developed a national strategy to counter antisemitism before the recent Hamas-led terrorist attack in Israel. The goal of this effort is to ensure that the promise of “never, never again” is upheld.
Despite questions about the president’s previous lack of public statements on the issue, Ms. Jean-Pierre defended Mr. Biden’s record on combating antisemitism. She reiterated that the administration supports peaceful protests but condemns actions like forcibly taking over buildings, as seen in recent campus demonstrations.
Former Representative Ted Deutch, now the chief executive of the American Jewish Committee, expressed support for Mr. Biden’s upcoming address, urging the president to speak boldly and forcefully against antisemitism. Meanwhile, Republicans have sought to capitalize on the issue by positioning themselves as defenders of Jewish Americans, despite their own party’s history with known antisemites.
In response to the growing concern over antisemitism, Speaker Mike Johnson led a vote in the House on a resolution condemning antisemitism and endorsing the definition embraced by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. While the resolution passed with bipartisan support, a significant number of Democrats and Republicans voted against it, raising concerns about the seriousness of addressing antisemitism within the party.
As President Biden prepares to address antisemitism next week, all eyes will be on his speech and the actions that follow, as the nation grapples with the need to combat hatred and discrimination in all its forms.
