As the clock ticks toward a potential government shutdown, President Joe Biden remains curiously silent, refusing to address the American public on the ongoing funding chaos.
This conspicuous absence has led to mounting questions, particularly as White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre continues deflecting inquiries with partisan jabs at Republicans, President-elect Donald Trump, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and “billionaire friends” like Elon Musk, as reported by Fox News.
During a Friday briefing, Jean-Pierre faced repeated questions about Biden’s lack of public engagement. One reporter pressed her, asking, “Why hasn’t President Biden said anything in the public about this? Don’t the American people deserve to know why millions of federal workers could enter this holiday period without a paycheck?”
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Jean-Pierre dodged the question, instead pinning the blame squarely on Republicans. “All Americans need to know that Republicans are getting in the way here and they are the ones who have created this mess. That’s the reality. That’s the fact,” she claimed.
She painted Biden as a seasoned leader with a strategy, though what that strategy entails remains unclear.
While Jean-Pierre confirmed Biden has been in touch with Democratic leaders like Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., she declined to say whether Biden had engaged directly with Speaker Johnson.
“He has been getting regular updates from his team. His team has been in touch with congressional members from both sides of the aisle,” she said.
The House narrowly rejected a trimmed-down funding bill on Thursday, dealing a blow to GOP efforts to stave off a shutdown. The measure, supported by Trump and Musk, failed 174-235, further highlighting the deep divisions in Washington.
Jean-Pierre accused Republicans of sabotaging the process, claiming, “Republicans need to stop playing politics with a government shutdown. And they are doing the bidding. They’re doing the bidding of their billionaire friends. That’s what we’re seeing at the expense of hard-working Americans.”
“There is a bipartisan agreement that Republicans tanked because of what they were directed to do by Elon Musk and President-elect Trump. That’s what happened. That is the reality that we’re in now.”
Musk, a vocal critic of government waste, played a key role in rallying conservative opposition to the bloated 1,547-page bill initially proposed. He advocated for a streamlined version, which was ultimately rejected, leaving Congress at a standstill.
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Despite attempts to clarify Biden’s role, Jean-Pierre’s responses offered little insight.
When asked whether the president’s leadership style involved “staying in the background,” Jean-Pierre shot back, “The strategy is that Congress, Republicans in particular, need to do their jobs and get out of their own way and focus on the American people, not their billionaire friends. That is what needs to happen. And that’s what the president wants to see.”
Republican leaders, meanwhile, struck a more optimistic tone. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., expressed confidence in a GOP plan to avoid a shutdown, while Rep. Stephanie Bice, R-Okla., emphasized the need for bipartisan cooperation to reach a deal.
As tensions rise, Americans are left wondering why the president, touted as a seasoned leader, has chosen to remain silent during such a critical moment. For now, Biden’s quiet approach continues to fuel frustration and skepticism.
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