Biden touts his new student debt relief as 'giving people a chance' to succeed

CULVER CITY, Calif. — President Joe Biden announced Wednesday that he's canceling an additional $1.2 billion in student debt for an estimated 153,000 borrowers, marking the latest in a series of executive actions aimed at tackling a priority for younger voters.

“I promise you: I’m never going to stop fighting for hard-working American families," he said.

Biden added that forgiving student loans empowers recipients to buy homes, start families and contribute more to the economy.

“That’s all we’re doing: giving people a chance. A fighting chance to make it,” Biden told an audience of dozens, many of whom raised their hands when he asked how many have had student loans.

It was an attempt to appeal to young voters, but not on their turf. Wednesday's event was held at a library in the heart of Los Angeles County, instead of one of the numerous public universities nearby.

The White House has been more tight-lipped about the location of their events since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, as pro-Gaza protesters have sought to disrupt speeches by Democrats. In Detroit this month, the White House did not disclose the location of the event until it began, and in Culver City, it waited until 24 hours prior to Biden’s remarks to reveal the location. A lone protestor stood outside the event at the Culver City Julian Dixon Library, oddly shouting that Biden “lost to Hamas” while also calling him “genocide Joe.”

Biden’s remarks come less than nine months before the general election, where he’s expected to face a rematch with former President Donald Trump, the Republican front-runner in the polls. Surveys show Biden is struggling with younger voters, who were a key ingredient in his 2020 victory against Trump and who often rate student