McConnell: Leave handling of protests to college presidents

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell declined to call for the National Guard to intervene in the pro-Palestinian protests that have popped up on college campuses across the country, even as other Republican leaders called for more forceful action.

“What needs to happen, at least at the beginning, is these university presidents need to get control of the situation, allow free speech and push back against antisemitism,” McConnell said during a pre-taped interview that aired on CBS’ “Face the Nation” Sunday.

A pro-Palestinian encampment set up on Columbia University’s campus earlier this month quickly spread to campuses at other colleges and universities after police entered the campus and arrested more than 100 students. Local and national politicians have been forced to grapple with how to handle the protests, particularly whether to send in law enforcement to break up the encampments in light of reports of the intimidation and harassment of some Jewish students.

Several Republicans have advocated for more forceful action to stamp out the mostly peaceful disruptions. House Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday visited Columbia’s campus and was joined by Sens. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) in urging President Joe Biden to deploy the National Guard to protect students. In Texas, footage of state troopers in riot gear has gone viral after Gov. Greg Abbott called in law enforcement to respond to protests at the University of Texas at Austin.

But unlike some of the more hardline members of his party, McConnell did not call for more forceful action when asked if the situation on college campuses required interference from the National Guard.

“Let's see if these university presidents can get control of the situation. They ought to be able to do that. Civil discussion is what college education is supposed to be about. I'd be interested in hearing the antisemitic people explain the justification for that kind of talk,” he said.