White House National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby addressed concerns about protesters calling President Biden “Genocide Joe,” stating that the administration is not concerned about nicknames and bumper stickers as they respect free speech.
Kirby emphasized that the term “genocide” is being used inappropriately and highlighted that Hamas is the entity seeking genocide by aiming to wipe Israel off the map.
He stressed that Israel is defending itself against a genocidal terrorist threat and urged the appropriate use of the term “genocide.”
“Look, we’re not worried about nicknames and bumper stickers,” Kirby said.
“That’s what the First Amendment’s about. But this word, genocide’s getting thrown around in a pretty inappropriate way by lots of different folks. What Hamas wants, make no mistake about it, is genocide.”
“Israel is trying to defend itself against a genocidal terrorist threat. So, when we’re going to start — if we’re going to start using that word, fine, let’s use it appropriately,” he added.
“Thank you. And now the second question, protesters here in DC, in New York, across the country, they’ve settled on a nickname for the president. They’ve been calling him Genocide Joe. They wrote it on the gates. Do you have a response from the White House to that nickname that they’ve settled on?” asked Steven Nelson of the New York Post.
“Look, we’re not worried about nicknames and bumper stickers,” Kirby replied.
“I mean, it’s First Amendment, free speech. The president’s focused on — as he wrote in his op-ed, on making sure that we can continue to support Israel as they fight a terrible terrorist group, Hamas, and as we all work together to get humanitarian assistance in and get people out, including hostages.”
“I said this the other day. Again, people can say what they want on — on the sidewalk, and that — and we respect that. That’s what the First Amendment’s about. But this word, genocide’s getting thrown around in a pretty inappropriate way by lots of different folks. What Hamas wants, make no mistake about it, is genocide.”
“They want to wipe Israel off the map. They’ve said so publicly, more than one occasion, in fact just recently, and they’ve said that they’re not going to stop. What happened on the 7th of October is going to happen again and again and again, and what happened on the 7th of October? Murder, slaughter of innocent people in their homes or at a music festival.”
“That’s genocidal intentions. Yes, there are too many civilian casualties in Gaza. Yes, the numbers are too high. Yes, too many families are grieving. And yes, we continue to urge the Israelis to be as careful and cautious as possible. That’s not going to stop from the president right on down. But Israel is not trying to wipe the Palestinian people off the map.”
“Israel’s not trying to wipe Gaza off the map. Israel is trying to defend itself against a genocidal terrorist threat. So, when we’re going to start — if we’re going to start using that word, fine, let’s use it appropriately.”
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