UlSl President Joe Biden was interrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters during a health care speech in North Carolina on Tuesday, eventually conceding that they "have a point" regarding the need for more care in Gaza. The incident highlights the growing criticism the president faces from within his own party over his administration's handling of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Two protesters were escorted out of the venue in Raleigh after cutting Biden off mid-remarks, shouting, "What about the health care in Gaza?" and alleging that the president was "complicit in genocide." Biden responded, "Everybody deserves health care," and asked the audience to "be patient with them."
After the protesters were removed, Biden acknowledged their concerns, stating, "They have a point. We need to get a lot more care into Gaza." His comments were met with cheers and a standing ovation from the audience.
The interruption is not an isolated incident, as Biden has faced numerous anti-war protests at his events since the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7, 2023. Calls have grown for his administration to take stronger action to address the civilian death toll in Gaza, with critics accusing the president of supporting a "genocide" against Palestinian people.
In an effort to minimize disruptions, the White House has made Biden's events smaller and withheld their precise locations longer than usual. The president has also faced mounting pressure from members of his party to address humanitarian needs more forcefully, leading him to increase political pressure on Israel's government to allow more aid into Gaza, though he has stopped short of calling for a cut-off of U.S. weapon sales to Israel.
Biden's efforts to appease critics within his party have led to growing tensions between his administration and Israeli leadership. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently canceled a visit to the United States after the U.S. did not veto a United Nations resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza.
Recent Fox News polling reveals a sharp divide within the Democratic Party on the Israel issue, with 42% of voters supporting the Palestinian side of the conflict, up from 25% in October. The poll also shows that since November, approval of Biden's handling of the Israel-Hamas war has dropped 8 points among all voters and 10 points among Democrats.
During his State of the Union address earlier this month, Biden announced that he was directing the U.S. military to establish a "temporary pier in the Mediterranean on the Gaza coast" for aid delivery. The U.S. has also begun airdropping humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Despite these measures, Biden and top allies have ramped up criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government's approach to the war. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., the highest-ranking Jewish official in the U.S., recently called for new elections to replace Netanyahu, a move that Biden later praised, adding that Schumer had "expressed a serious concern shared not only by him but by many Americans."
The president's speech in North Carolina primarily focused on his administration's work to preserve and expand health care, coinciding with the 14th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act's signing into law. During his remarks, Biden also took aim at former President Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the ACA and his boasting about being "able to kill Roe v. Wade."
