President Biden and his administration were noticeably absent from the tense negotiations on government funding happening in Congress this week. Instead, President-elect Trump and his supporters were the ones engaged in discussions with lawmakers over a continuing resolution, as the possibility of a government shutdown loomed. The White House dismissed inquiries about Biden’s lack of involvement in the talks, stating they were staying out of it partly because Republicans needed to address a situation they had created. However, Biden’s silence and the lack of administration officials heading to Capitol Hill as the funding deadline neared could have negative consequences for the President’s final days in office.
GOP strategist Doug Heye expressed concern about Biden’s absence, stating, “We’re just not seeing them. And he’s completely disappeared. Biden is AWOL and it’s reasonable to question whether some of that is because he’s just not up to the task.” Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre defended Biden’s approach, calling it a “strategy” to emphasize that the responsibility to resolve the funding issues lay with Republicans in the House.
Despite the White House’s stance, questions persisted about Biden’s public statements, leadership, and absence from the negotiations. Some Democrats even indicated a desire for the Biden administration to exit swiftly, suggesting that his party was prepared to move on from his presidency. Criticism also arose regarding whether Biden would have any influence in the negotiations given his limited involvement thus far.
The White House issued critical statements on the Republican plan B but refrained from commenting on subsequent proposals, maintaining that the initial spending agreement negotiated by Speaker Mike Johnson needed to be passed. Trump, on the other hand, actively inserted himself into the negotiations, even challenging Republicans who supported certain measures.
Overall, Biden’s approach to the government funding negotiations contrasted sharply with Trump’s more hands-on involvement, raising questions about the effectiveness of his leadership during this critical period.
In negotiations regarding the debt limit as part of the CR, Jean-Pierre stated that Biden’s current priority is maintaining government operations without delving into that specific issue. During Biden’s term, he and then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy reached an agreement on a debt ceiling increase following extensive discussions in which the White House played a significant role.
Former Rep. Joe Crowley, a former House Democratic caucus chair, contended that Biden should not be drawn into the internal Republican turmoil. Other Democrats echoed this sentiment, asserting that the responsibility for funding the government lies with the Republicans.
A former Democratic National Committee official, Ivan Zapien, expressed that the dispute appeared to be an internal conflict within the Republican Party, suggesting that Biden and other Democrats may not need to intervene in its resolution.
Regarding the ongoing negotiations, a former Democratic leadership aide emphasized that the focus should be on Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, as Biden’s term is concluding. The aide highlighted the importance of these negotiations in shaping the legislative and political landscape for the upcoming year, underscoring the need for Democrats to work closely with Jeffries and Schumer to secure their support.
Despite efforts to distance himself from the negotiations, Biden faces the risk of being blamed for a potential government shutdown under his administration. Former President Trump has sought to exploit this vulnerability, calling for a shutdown during Biden’s presidency and insisting on a debt ceiling increase during Biden’s tenure to deflect any blame.
In response to Trump’s remarks, Jean-Pierre reiterated that Republicans were responsible for obstructing the initial proposal. The history of government shutdowns in the U.S. was also referenced, with mixed public opinions on culpability following past shutdowns.
Biden’s strategy of avoiding public statements and sending staff members to Capitol Hill is seen as a way for the White House to remain detached from the ongoing negotiations. Crowley emphasized that efforts to tarnish Democrats’ image were unfounded, as the agreement was broken by the opposing party and not Democrats or the president.
With a new administration set to take office shortly, the focus remains on resolving the current impasse without implicating the outgoing Democratic president.
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