ATLANTA — President Joe Biden got a mostly warm welcome as the keynote speaker at Morehouse College’s commencement ceremony on Sunday. Yet there was a whiff of college campus unrest over the war in Gaza inside and outside the campus gates.
Biden didn’t explicitly ask for votes in his speech to Morehouse graduates, but it was still a day steeped in presidential and world politics.
Hundreds of Morehouse graduates were there to mark a milestone in their personal lives.
"I’m proud, I’m happy. Hey, we did it!" said Bradley Johnson as he took photos with family members.
They were in the presence of the US President. Joe Biden’s speech was congratulatory and kept one eye on this year’s election.
"I’m relieving the burden of student debt. Many of you had already had the benefit of it, so you can chase your dream," Biden told graduates, who applauded the line from his speech.
Still, a handful of students visibly shunned Biden -- turning their backs to the President on stage. A faculty member, Taura Taylor, stood with her fist raised, facing away from the podium during the 26 minutes he spoke.
"I support peaceful, nonviolent protest. Your voices should be heard. I promise you I hear them," Biden said.
Biden said the war in Gaza, which has stirred protests on many college campuses, is one of the "most complicated problems in the world."
Graduate Tyler Green said he wasn't very impressed by the speech and didn't believe the president did well.
"Him donating the money to Israel – hmm," Green said. "But then also going back and trying to help Gaza. It’s just -- I don’t know -- hypocritical a little bit."
But many in the audience extended the upbeat mood of the day to the keynote speaker as well.
"I think he delivered a very powerful speech in a sense. He hit on a couple of key things that I will always take home and remember," said graduate Jalen Campbell.
"It was just enough to keep me attentive," chuckled graduate James White.
Some of those in the audience will be voting for the first time this fall, when Biden, a Democrat, is expected to face Republican Donald Trump.