If the 2024 campus protests for Gaza on some of the most reputable varsities of the world is any indication, then youth mobilization in America in favor of Palestinian nationhood and resistance presents an existential challenge to the Biden administration. There exists an understanding that the senseless genocidal spree from the Netanyahu regime is being enabled and abetted by exponential arms sales to the Israelis from Washington D.C. These irrefutable realities have not gone down too well with young American voters who are aware of global affairs as well as American duplicity and hypocrisy on "Israel". Such anti-war sentiment is not only brewing but transforming itself into an electorate that could prove decisive for the Democratic Party in the upcoming 2024 elections. 

This threat has been flagged by Democratic Representative from California, Ro Khanna who warned that Joe Biden is running out of time with young voters disillusioned with his administration’s handling of the Israeli genocide. He further cautioned that young voters wanted an immediate ceasefire and there are humanitarian stakes involved in America’s "Israel" policy which could cost the Democratic Party. Examined closely, Khanna’s assessments are on merit. According to an opinion poll conducted by the Pew Research Center in March 2024, 60% of Americans between eighteen and 29 had positive views on Palestine as compared to a paltry 46% for "Israel". 46% of young Americans also want an end to "Israel’s" aggression in Gaza. 

These polls and the brewing anger exemplified in the campus protests, however, have been conveniently ignored by the Biden administration even as "Israel’s" anger at the US withholding weapons to the genocide regime was recently rebuffed by Washington D.C. In a way, American concerns over Palestine are considered cosmetic by the youth electorate. Despite the US warning "Israel" about carrying out attacks in Rafah, a short comment of ‘its wrong’ was made by Biden in the aftermath of the Israeli onslaught. This came amid reports in the American press that his administration plans to advance a $1 billion in arms transfers to "Israel" which includes inter alia, tank shells. 

There are also accusations of denialism within the Biden administration. This is anchored in Biden repeatedly stating that "Israel" has not launched a major attack in Rafah despite an offensive taking place, displacing 450,000 Palestinians from the city. Even on prospects of ceasefires, Biden’s rhetoric of working towards one with Middle Eastern leaders was exposed when the US repeatedly vetoed ceasefire resolutions at the United Nations Security Council and voted against two at the United Nations General Assembly. 

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Such contradictions have contributed to youth sentiment on Biden which is overwhelmingly negative. This anti-Biden sentiment has been festering for a while and boiling over as the plight of Palestinians worsens with the genocidal regime’s onslaught. This explains why the youth have been at the forefront of anti-war campaigns on universities such as Columbia and Harvard and have borne the brunt of crackdowns from law enforcement agencies. Such disillusioned voters can easily translate their frustration to the ballot which could prove fatal for the Democratic Party which is already reeling from declining approval ratings. Only 35% of Americans believe that Biden is doing a good job as President in April 2024.

The staggering casualty toll in Gaza and the disproportionate response by the genocidal regime has prompted many voters to resort to social media rather than traditional sources of information such as CNN to uncover the truth. Many social media users are also youngsters, millennials, and Generation Z who are inclined to debate, discuss, and deliberate upon global events beyond the Ukraine war. Much of the US media is also biased and in favor of the status quo or the Biden administration’s policy making which irks the average American youngster and motivates him/ her to seek facts online. According to the 2023 report published by the Centre for Media Monitoring titled ‘Media Bias Gaza 2023-24’ American channels strongly emphasize "Israel’s" right to defend itself and overshadow Palestinian rights with a staggering ratio of 5-1. This lopsided coverage has been picked up by the American youth which remains disenchanted with the Biden administration's blanket approval of Israel’s so-called ‘right to defend itself’ instead of curbing the genocide of Palestinians. 

In light of this, the Democratic Party which has long sought to replace the Trump era in American politics by rescinding previous unilateralism, populism, and unequivocal support for "Israel" is now in danger of being ‘trumped’ by the Republican Party. While criticism of Biden’s policies on "Israel" is not the sole factor behind the Democratic Party’s demise, youth disillusionment over Washington D.C’s unequivocal support to the genocidal regime is threatening to upend Biden’s rule. This remains a possibility despite Donald Trump being embroiled in cases ranging from concealing confidential documents to providing ‘hush money.’ 

The truth, however, is that the Biden administration could well and truly be ‘hushed’. The Democratic Party’s future is in jeopardy even in their traditional strongholds, let alone swing states in the upcoming 2024 American vote. 

This is what happens when you support a genocidal regime and are duplicitous on safeguarding Palestinians.