Johnson says calling National Guard on Columbia protests would be 'appropriate' if threats 'not stopped'

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is suggesting nan National Guard should soon beryllium called successful to quell nan Gaza ceasefire protests astatine Columbia University if they don't peter retired themselves.

Johnson and respective House Republicans visited nan New York City Ivy League schoolhouse connected Wednesday arsenic tensions location escalate complete demonstrations that person had respective Jewish students speak retired publically astir fearfulness for their safety. Columbia University students and those attending its sister school, Barnard College, person group up a shelter metropolis connected field successful protestation of Columbia's investments successful companies linked to Israel. 

Tensions complete nan rumor almost reached a boiling constituent respective times during Johnson's reside arsenic pro-ceasefire student activists many times heckled and tried to interrupt nan Louisiana Republican pinch coordinated chants which included "We can't perceive you" and "Mike, you s---."

"Enjoy your free speech," Johnson changeable backmost astatine nan protesters astatine 1 constituent early on.

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Speaker Mike Johnson did not norm retired nan National Guard being basal to quell nan Gaza ceasefire protests astatine Columbia University. (Getty Images)

Later erstwhile asked whether he would urge President Biden to telephone nan National Guard successful to nan campus, Johnson said he would beryllium speaking pinch nan president soon – and did not norm retired suggesting national troops.

"My volition is to telephone President Biden aft we time off present and stock pinch him what we person seen pinch our ain 2 eyes and request that he return action. There is executive authority that'd beryllium due if this is not contained quickly, and if these threats and intimidation are not stopped, location is an due clip for nan National Guard," Johnson said.

"We person to bring bid to these campuses. We cannot let this to hap astir nan country. We are amended than this."

Johnson attacked nan demonstrators arsenic a "mob" and specifically denounced professors and different module who person joined nan protests.

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Anti-Israel agitators conception an encampment connected Columbia University’s field successful New York City connected Monday, April 22, 2024. (Peter Gerber)

He besides repeated his telephone from early this greeting for Columbia University President Minouche Shafik, who he met pinch anterior to nan property conference, to resign.

"I'm present coming joining my colleagues successful calling connected President Shafik to resign if she tin not instantly bring bid to this chaos," Johnson said, eliciting much jeers. "As Speaker of nan House, I person committed coming that nan Congress will not beryllium silent arsenic Jewish students are expected to tally for their lives and enactment location from their classes hiding successful fear."

At points he addressed nan protesters directly, calling their activity un-American and accusing them of censorship arsenic students continued shouting successful nan crowd.

"The assemblage field utilized to beryllium nan spot for respectful debate, for nan differences of sentiment successful nan free marketplace of ideas to beryllium discussed. That is not what is happening here," Johnson said. "You are intimidating and shouting down group you disagree with."

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Johnson signaled he whitethorn raise nan matter pinch President Biden aft his property conference. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

The jeers grew louder while Johnson pressed on, "You cannot censor and soundlessness viewpoints you disagree with. That is not American, but you do not understand what it intends to respect nan First Amendment."

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"My connection to nan students wrong nan encampment is it spell backmost to people and extremity nan nonsense," he said. "If we want to person a statement connected field astir nan merits of location things, let's do that. But you can't intimidate your chap students and make them enactment location from class. Think astir that. Is that right? Do you deliberation that's right?"

Fox News Digital reached retired to nan White House astir Johnson's comments regarding nan National Guard.