In recent days, Democrat Joe Biden’s government has faced a major challenge in relation to the incendiary student protests at American universities against the Israeli offensive in the Middle East, waged with the terrorist group Hamas seven months ago, an issue that appears as an obstacle to his re-election in November.
Last Thursday, the president made his first direct statement from the White House about the episodes that have already affected more than 30 institutions across the country and resulted in thousands of arrests. In the speech, he criticized any act of violence that is carried out on university campuses and reaffirmed his support for Israel, despite recent criticism of Tel Aviv in recent months over the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave.
Part of the Democratic electorate has already demonstrated that it is dissatisfied with the Biden administration’s support for Israel in some states, such as Michigan, where it faced significant opposition from approximately 100,000 people (13%), who voted as “discommitted” to the candidate for re-election in the party in protest against US foreign policy.
Now, the Democrat may suffer the consequences of his position on international issues at the polls. Students who formed camps at universities in recent days in favor of the “Palestinian cause” represent an important portion of Biden’s electorate, who historically opt for the Democratic Party, votes that, if lost, could make a significant difference in a close election with Republican Donald Trump.
A survey carried out last month by the broadcaster CNN with 1212 respondents, it was pointed out that the current president had a 71% disapproval in terms of foreign policy due to the war between Israel and Hamas. Among voters under 35, this negative assessment reached 81%.
“The loss of support from Generation Z, which was very critical of the president’s policies towards Israel and the conflict in Gaza, could define the outcome of the election. These young voters, born between 1997 and 2010, are significant in number and in influence. Considering Biden’s history of leadership among young people in previous elections and the current loss of support, the repercussions could be significant at the polls in November”, explained political analyst and professor of Institutional Relations at Ibmec Brasília, Eduardo Galvão.
According to the expert, the Democrat is in a complicated position as he is divided between the young electorate and his support for the State of Israel to defend itself against Hamas terrorism. “Any significant change in its policy toward Israel could alienate parts of its traditional voter base and complicate diplomatic relations.”
For Galvão, a possible strategy to mitigate the damage would be for Biden to adopt a more balanced approach in this current scenario, emphasizing the need for a peaceful and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, while, in practice, maintaining the US commitment to security. of Israel. “In addition, he could intensify dialogue with youth leaders and student groups to better understand their concerns and demonstrate empathy and commitment to global justice issues, without compromising his foreign policy,” he highlighted.
As a consequence of the electorate’s discontent, the expert assesses that the current situation could even strengthen Trump, his November opponent at the polls.
“Trump has positioned himself as a defender of order, using the protests to paint the Democratic Party as incapable of maintaining security at universities and, by extension, the country. This resonates with a portion of the electorate that values order and security. Furthermore, if Biden continues to lose support from young voters due to his stance on Israel and Gaza, these voters may become apathetic or explore alternatives, indirectly benefiting Trump or other candidates who present themselves as viable alternatives”, he analyzed.
