WASHINGTON – President Biden declined to reply reporters’ questions on Tuesday as he received congressional leaders within the Oval Office – ahead of his planned upcoming trip to Australia and Papua Recent Guinea to return to debt ceiling talks to forestall federal bankruptcy in about two weeks.
Biden hinted that he would answer questions later within the afternoon within the West Wing driveway – but he didn’t after a gathering with Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and other leaders.
Few reporters actually expected Biden to seem on the drive, noting that the 80-year-old president similarly dodged questions on May 5, claiming he would hold a “big press conference.” As a substitute, he interviewed a friendly MSNBC expert.
“Hello people. Take a great picture of us all. We’re having an important time. Every little thing goes well,” Biden said as reporters entered the Oval Office.
Biden is leaving for a visit to Japan on Wednesday – but has skipped other planned stops to get back to debt talks.
“I don’t have any comment,” the president added. “We’re just getting began. And we’ll be available with sticks when that is over.
The “sticks” consult with a row of standing microphones north of the west wing lobby.
Chatting with reporters within the driveway after meeting Biden, McCarthy said on Monday afternoon, “I have not seen any recent movement” about two weeks before the possible default.
However the Republican Party speaker acknowledged that a deal on the works may very well be reached, as is normally the case when outsmarting the debt ceiling, adding to reporters: “We may give you the chance to shut a deal by the top of the week.”
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who also attended the meeting with Biden, said he was confident there can be a resolution.
“I’ve hit several debt ceilings over time,” McConnell said. “The US is not going to go bankrupt. It never was and never might be.”
White House officials have steadfastly refused to barter with Republicans within the House over the debt ceiling, which have to be raised by early June to avoid a default that would increase the fee of US borrowing while dealing a blow to American prestige.
Biden, nevertheless, expressed openness to spending cuts in tandem with a rise within the debt ceiling.
Representatives within the House of Representatives passed a bill last month that, amongst other things, would propose reforms that may take back unspent COVID-19 emergency funds and limit future spending increases.
Tuesday’s meeting within the Oval Office was attended by Vice President Kamala Harris, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).