Former President Joe Biden was briefly confronted by a passenger about the deaths of children in Gaza while flying to Columbia, South Carolina for a political event. The woman told him that children in Gaza were dying every day and urged action before an aide stepped in. Biden responded, 'I know that,' before ending the exchange and looking ahead.

The Gaza war created deep divisions within the Democratic Party during the 2024 election cycle, particularly among younger voters. Polling in early 2025 indicated that many voters who had supported Biden in 2020 chose a different candidate in 2024 because of concerns about violence in Gaza, making it a leading issue in their decision.

Now out of office, Biden traveled to South Carolina to headline an event marking his 2020 primary victory and to advocate for the state to remain first in the Democratic presidential primary calendar for 2028. South Carolina was elevated to the top spot in 2024 with Biden’s backing, a move seen as strengthening his position within the party during his reelection bid.