Under mounting political pressure, U.S. President Joe Biden broke his silence on campus unrest over the war in Gaza on Thursday, saying Americans have the right to demonstrate but not to unleash violence.

President Biden defended the right to free speech but says 'order must prevail' on college campuses across the country.

President Joe Biden said he would defend the right to peacefully protest on college campuses but drew a line against violence following a wave of demonstrations at US universities against Israel’s war in Gaza and his handling of the conflict that have threatened his reelection prospects.

President Joe Biden will speak about student protests over the war in Gaza on Thursday, according to a White House official, breaking days of silence as police crack down on campus encampments.

President Joe Biden said Thursday that “dissent is essential for democracy,” but “chaos” has no part in a peaceful protest. He spoke as arrests continue on campuses around the U.S. as police dismantle camps of students protesting Israel’s war in Gaza.

By Trevor Hunnicutt, James Oliphant WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Escalating campus protests are forcing U.S. President Joe Biden to walk a careful line of denouncing antisemitism while supporting young Americans' right to protest and trying to limit longer-term political damage.