Chicago – December 20, 2024
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre faced tough questions on Friday about President Joe Biden’s lack of public statements as a possible government shutdown nears. Reporters asked why Biden hasn’t addressed the nation, especially with millions of federal workers at risk of missing paychecks during the holiday season.
Jean-Pierre avoided directly answering but blamed Republicans, former President-elect Donald Trump, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and wealthy allies like Elon Musk for the ongoing gridlock.
“This is on Republicans. They created this mess,” she said during a press briefing. “The president understands how Congress works. He knows what strategies are effective and is focused on getting this resolved.”
Jean-Pierre shared that Biden has spoken with Democratic leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, but would not confirm if Biden has spoken directly with Speaker Johnson.
She added that Biden has been receiving updates from his team and staying informed about the situation.
On Thursday, a Republican-backed bill to prevent a partial government shutdown failed in the House, falling short with a 174-235 vote. Jean-Pierre accused Republicans of breaking promises and “blowing up” previous agreements as the national debt reaches $36 trillion and the deficit exceeds $1.8 trillion.
