The White House on Tuesday spoke out against the “death to America” shouts posted online from a recent protest in Dearborn, Mich., against Israel’s war in Gaza.
When asked if President Biden disapproves of the comments in the shouts, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre replied, “yes,” as some attendees captured the chants on video.
“The president has made it clear that peaceful protests are important. However, any violent language will be rejected,” she said.
Dearborn mayor Abdullah Hammoud (D) also criticized the shouts in a statement. a statement on X that “Dearborn is a city of proud Americans.”
The shouts, which also included “Death to Israel,” happened at a rally on Friday to mark the International Day of Al-Quds, according to The Detroit News. Fox2 reported that the shouts came from members of the audience at the rally.
Dearborn, a Detroit suburb where Arab Americans make up the majority of the population, was under increased security in February after an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal called the city “America’s jihad capital.” Biden called out the “anti-Arab hate” against Dearborn at the time.
When questioned by Fox News’ Jacqui Heinrich about whether Biden is concerned if Dearborn faces a risk of becoming a hot bed for homegrown threats, Jean-Pierre reiterated that the White House denounces violence.
“I don’t have any intelligence to share with you on that, obviously that’s something we’re always very vigilant about,” she said.
She added, “obviously, we will condemn any, any violent rhetoric.”
