Biden spoke with ceasefire advocates as his team grapples with reality of regular protests

President Joe Biden was working a photoline backstage on Wednesday after receiving the United Auto Workers’ coveted political endorsement at its’ annual conference in Washington, DC, when a small group of union members supporting a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war approached him.

Biden briefly spoke with the members about their concerns, in an exchange that multiple people – including Michigan Rep. Debbie Dingell, who was present – described as “respectful” and “cordial.” The president also shook hands with the group and poised for photos, according to one source familiar with the matter. (Dingell declined to share other details with CNN, saying private conversations should remain precisely that.)

One attendee told CNN that prior to the UAW conference, they had reached out to the White House to offer them a courtesy note of caution: There were certain to be pro-ceasefire protesters in the audience. The union itself had endorsed a ceasefire in December.

The White House responded that the president was prepared to take some time to speak with those individuals if they asked to have that conversation with him, according to that attendee.

That attendee happened to be right: Biden’s remarks to the union members were interrupted by protesters, including one who unfurled a Palestinian flag and shouted: “Call for a humanitarian ceasefire!” The group was quickly led out of the room as Biden paused his speech.

Afterward, however, the president listened closely to the concerns of some union members backstage about the situation in Gaza before departing the venue to return to the White House.

“I know, he knows how to talk to people. It’s an issue we’re going to have to talk about and deal with,” Dingell said Wednesday on CNN.

Even as Biden remains staunchly supportive of Israel in its campaign against Hamas,…