Despite having one more month left in office, President Joe Biden has been radio silent as Congress scrambles to put a government funding deal together.
Negotiations over government funding stalled earlier in the week after President-elect Donald Trump came out in opposition to House Speaker Mike Johnson’s first bill. Yet, the second plan, this time endorsed by the president-elect, failed Thursday with 38 Republicans voting against it. While Trump governs outside the Oval Office, the current president has not given public remarks, issued a statement or spoke with reporters about the situation as of Friday morning. (RELATED: The Craziest Things Congress Snuck Into Its Pork-Packed Christmas Spending Spree)
Additionally, the president has not reached out to the speaker to discuss the negotiations at the time of publication, an official told the Daily Caller.
Though Biden has not spoken out about the congressional negotiations, his press secretary, Karine Jean Pierre, issued a statement.
“Republicans need to 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 ordered Republicans to shut down the government and they are threatening to do just that — while undermining communities recovering from disasters, farmers and ranchers, and community health centers,” Jean-Pierre wrote.
“Triggering a damaging government shutdown would hurt families who are gathering to meet with their loved ones and endanger the basic services Americans from veterans to Social Security recipients rely on. A deal is a deal. Republicans should keep their word,” her statement continued.
US President Joe Biden boards Marine One as he departs from Delaware Air National Guard Base in New Castle, Delaware, on December 19, 2024, en route to the White House. (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)
Several Democratic House lawmakers have also not heard from the president during the negotiations, Politico reported.
Some House Democrats have blamed Trump ally Elon Musk, who publicly bashed the first spending bill.
“I haven’t gotten any message from President Biden, or heard of anything that he’s saying,” Democratic California Rep. Mark Takano told Politico. “Elon’s the shot-caller, it’s pretty clear to me.”
Musk has denied having any part in writing the Trump-backed continuing resolution.
First of all, I’m not the author of this proposal. Credit to @realDonaldTrump, @JDVance & @SpeakerJohnson.
Second, this is a MUCH better bill that is closer to being a real continuing resolution (not an omnibus masquerading as a CR), but with support for hurricane victims &… https://t.co/AJTI6BTFdr
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 19, 2024
Biden spent Monday in Washington, D.C., touting the administration’s work at the Department of Labor and attending the White House’s Hanukkah Holiday Reception. On Tuesday, the president traveled to Wilmington, Delaware, where he marked the anniversary of the car crash that killed his first wife and daughter over 50 years ago. Biden was scheduled ahead of the week to remain in Delaware until Thursday evening and he returned to the White House as planned. Biden shouted something inaudible about the Pope while walking back to the White House on Thursday, but did not address the potential shutdown.
The president’s only Friday plans are to make a holiday visit to the Children’s National Hospital. The vice president cancelled her scheduled trip Thursday to California and will remain Friday in Washington, D.C., conducting internal meetings with staff. At the time of publication, the vice president’s office did not respond to the Daily Caller’s questions regarding why Harris had changed her plans.
As the president rides out his lame duck period, White House aides are revealing who was handling operations as Biden’s physical fitness declined, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The WSJ interviewed nearly 50 people who had been close to the president during his administration and they explained how the staff primarily dealt with cabinet officials while handling other presidential responsibilities and campaign events. (RELATED: With All Eyes On Trump, Biden’s Bubble Gathered For One Last Swanky, Insulated Sendoff)
In the midst of Biden’s absence during the negotiations, White House staffers have “kept in close touch with Democratic Hill leaders” regarding their strategy in the situation, one person familiar with the administration’s thinking told Politico.
“It’s pretty obvious it is President Trump’s government at this time, and basically President Biden is no longer involved,” Republican Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso told the outlet.