Biden Administration Silent on Student Loan Relief for Anti-Israel Protestors amidst Campus Antisemitism

The Biden administration has not yet clarified whether students participating in anti-Israel protests spreading across college campuses will be disqualified from student loan forgiveness programs. As the demonstrations intensify with chants such as “Burn Tel Aviv to the ground” and support for terrorist organization Hamas, some schools have witnessed a surge of antisemitism that has left Jewish students feeling unsafe on campus. Pro-Palestinian protests in elite institutions including Harvard, Yale, Penn, Berkeley, and others began following Hamas’ launching war against Israel earlier this month, which also triggered reports of heightened anti-Jewish sentiments among student bodies nationwide. These demonstrations come after the Supreme Court struck down President Biden’s plan to cancel up to $20,000 in debt per person last year; however, his administration remains committed to erasing debts through other established relief programs as part of an overall policy focused on providing substantial aid. A growing number of students have been arrested at universities including Boston’s Northeastern University and Emory’s campus in Atlanta for their involvement in the protests. Critics have condemned debt bailouts under Biden, calling to end university-wide initiatives promoting Diversity, Equality & Inclusion (DEI) policies as well as student loan relief programs. Trump has also spoken out against what he views is President Biden’s complicity regarding anti-Israel demonstrations on college campuses and accused him of being responsible for the protests that have now led to Jewish students feeling unsafe at these institutions. The former president further criticized Biden’s inability to communicate his position clearly, arguing that the current administration lacked direction or empathy towards what was occurring within America’s higher learning environments. In contrast, President Biden has condemned both antisemitic protests and those who fail to understand Palestinian issues; however, this statement drew criticism as it echoes former president Trump’s remarks in 2017 following the Charlottesville riots when he claimed that there was “blame on both sides” among White nationalists and counter-protesters.