Former Obama official Van Jones warned Thursday that Biden has “a lot of work ahead of him” trying to regain the trust of young, Arab and Muslim voters who oppose his support for Israel amid the war in Gaza.
President Biden faces an electoral revolt among Michigan's Arab and Muslim voters, outraged by his continued support for Israel, with some even accusing him of enabling genocide. Arab Americans living in Michigan have traditionally been reliably Democrats, and Biden won more than 75% of the vote in the Arab-majority city of Dearborn in 2020. However, that voting bloc is now under threat, as some members of community are launching a “Leave Biden Campaign” in protest of his handling of Israel's retaliatory war in Gaza.
Thursday night's episode of CNN's Erin Burnett OutFront focused heavily on Biden's attempts to regain the trust of Arab American voters by visiting Michigan in person. It featured students who would be voting for the first time, as well as a former field organizer for Biden's campaign who said he would not vote for the president again, considering him complicit in the deaths of Palestinians.
AOC REACTS TO LABELING OFFER 'JOE GENOCIDE' BY THE EXTREME LEFT: 'THE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE CONSTANT'
CNN political commentator Van Jones offers his thoughts on President Biden's relationship with Arab and Muslim voters amid the war in Gaza. (CNN)
Asked if he was concerned that such a move would help re-elect former President Donald Trump, the former Biden campaign staffer said, “It probably will.” “We've seen four years of Trump and we've seen four years of Biden and people really don't see a difference between the presidents.”
Burnett turned to Jones and asked him about the former campaign staffer who had turned against Biden over his foreign policy in Gaza. Burnett recalled how he had told his CNN reporter in Michigan “that he will not vote for Biden again even knowing that it could help Trump. He says that Biden 'is not someone he can trust.'” How big a problem is it for Biden right now, Van?
YOUNG PEOPLE FIND THEM IN 'JOE GENOCIDE' FOR THEIR CEASE-FIRE STANCE: THE OFFER 'ABSOLUTELY SUCKS'
“It's a big deal for him right now,” Jones responded. “There are four syllables that are directed at him. 'Genocide Joe'. That is becoming something that is being heard from younger people, from younger voters in the Arab American community.”
Protesters were seen waving signs that read “Joe-nicide” and “We did it Joe, we funded Palestinian genocide.” (Peter Gerber/Fox News)
He then added that while Biden can change the situation, it will take a lot of effort to do so.
“I think he can change things, but you have to be honest now. There is disappointment at the base with how he is handling the war in Gaza,” Jones said. “Now, the reality is that Joe Biden has deep ties and long-standing friendships in the Muslim community and the Arab community. He can get back there, but now he himself has a lot of work ahead of him.”
An anti-Israel poster with the phrase “from the river to the sea Palestine will be free.” The phrase has been criticized for calling for the destruction of Israel. (Credit: Ryan Zamos)
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Fox News' Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.
