Despite having a month left in his term, President Joe Biden remains radio silent as Congress rushes to finalize a government funding deal.
Negotiations over government funding stalled earlier in the week after President-elect Donald Trump announced his opposition to House Speaker Mike Johnson’s original bill. But a second plan, this time backed by the president-elect, failed Thursday with 38 Republicans voting against it. President Trump rules out of the Oval Office, but as of Friday morning, the current president has not spoken publicly, issued a statement or spoken to reporters. (Related article: The craziest thing that happened was Congress snuck into big Christmas spending)
Additionally, as of press time, the president had not contacted the speaker to discuss negotiations, sources told the Daily Caller.
Biden has not commented on the congressional negotiations, but his press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, issued a statement.
“Republicans must stop playing politics with this bipartisan agreement or they will hurt hardworking Americans and create instability across the country. President-elect Trump and Vice President-elect Vance “They are threatening to do just that while forcing Republicans to order a government shutdown and weakening communities, farmers and ranchers, and community health centers that are recovering from disaster,” Jean-Pierre said. . I wrote.
“Triggering a harmful government shutdown would harm families gathering to see loved ones and jeopardize the basic services Americans rely on, from veterans to Social Security recipients. A deal is a deal, and Republicans must keep their word.”
U.S. President Joe Biden boards Marine One as it departs from Delaware Air National Guard Base in New Castle, Delaware, bound for the White House, December 19, 2024. (Photo by Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)
Several Democratic House members also said they had not heard from the president during negotiations, according to Politico. reported.
Some House Democrats are criticizing Trump ally Elon Musk, who publicly denounced the first spending bill.
“I haven’t received any messages from President Biden, I haven’t heard anything from him,” Democratic California Rep. Mark Takano told Politico. “It’s clear to me that Elon is a shot-caller.”
Musk denies having any role in crafting the continuing resolution that Trump supports.
First of all, I am not the author of this proposal. credit: @realDonaldTrump, @JDVance & @SpeakerJohnson.
Second, while this is a much better bill and closer to a real continuing solution (rather than an omnibus masquerading as CR), hurricane victims and… https://t.co/AJTI6BTFdr
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 19, 2024
Biden spent Monday in Washington, D.C., touting his administration’s efforts at the Labor Department and attending a Hanukkah holiday reception at the White House. On Tuesday, the president traveled to Wilmington, Delaware, to mark the anniversary of the car crash that killed his first wife and daughter more than 50 years ago. Biden was scheduled to stay in Delaware until Thursday night, when he returned to the White House as scheduled. On his way back to the White House on Thursday, Biden shouted something inaudible about the Pope but did not mention a possible government shutdown.
The president’s only plan for Friday is a holiday visit to the National Children’s Hospital. The vice president canceled a trip to California scheduled for Thursday and will remain in Washington, D.C., on Friday for an internal meeting with staff. As of publication, the vice president’s office had not responded to The Daily Caller’s questions about why Harris changed her plans.
The Wall Street Journal reports that White House aides are clarifying who was in charge of Biden’s weakening surgeries as the president navigates his way through a lame duck period. The Journal interviewed about 50 people close to the president during his administration, describing how staffers primarily dealt with cabinet members while juggling the president’s other responsibilities and campaign activities. (Related: With all eyes on Trump, Biden bubble gathers for one last flashy, isolated send-off)
With Biden absent from negotiations, White House staffers are “in close contact with Democratic Hill leaders” regarding strategy in this situation, a person familiar with the administration’s thinking told Politico. Ta.
“It’s clear at this point that it’s President Trump’s government, and President Biden is basically no longer involved,” Wyoming Republican Sen. John Barrasso told the outlet.
