President Biden on Thursday said pro-Palestinian protests haven't changed his Middle East policy, and he doesn’t think the National Guard should intervene in the demonstrations.
“Have the protests forced you to reconsider any of the policies with regard to the region?” a reporter asked.
“No,” Biden replied, after delivering remarks on the protests from the White House.
“Do you think the National Guard should intervene?” another reporter asked.
“No,” Biden said.
Biden did not respond to a shouted question on whether he agreed with what the students were calling for.
Biden, in his remarks, suggested that disruptions to students trying to learn on college campuses were not peaceful forms of protest and cautioned protesters from committing chaos.
“Violent protest is not protected. Peaceful protest is. It's against the law when violence occurs. Destroying property is not a peaceful protest,” Biden said. “Vandalism, trespassing, breaking windows, shutting down campuses, forcing the cancellation of classes and graduations, none of this is a peaceful protest.”
