President Joe Biden called on House Republicans, including Speaker Kevin McCarthy, to honor their commitments on government funding and aid to Ukraine after narrowly avoiding a shutdown. In a statement from the White House, President Biden commended the deal reached by lawmakers and emphasized the need for a smoother negotiation process moving forward.
Expressing frustration with the brinksmanship often seen in such negotiations, President Biden urged House GOP leadership to pass yearlong appropriations bills in line with the agreement made earlier this year regarding the US debt ceiling. He criticized McCarthy for proposing spending cuts that exceed what was agreed upon in previous talks.
Furthermore, President Biden appealed to McCarthy and other Republican leaders to follow through on their promise to hold a standalone vote on funding for Ukraine. While acknowledging the lack of Ukraine funding in the bill he signed, the president emphasized the importance of maintaining uninterrupted American support for Ukraine and reassured both Ukraine and US allies of unwavering commitment.
Regarding the impending drama over McCarthy’s speakership, President Biden declined to comment. He refrained from expressing trust in McCarthy’s future negotiations, stating that he hoped the California Republican would learn from recent developments.
President Biden described the near-miss of a government shutdown as a “manufactured crisis” that would have caused unnecessary hardship for millions of Americans. However, he admitted that he did not anticipate swift action from Republicans to keep the government open beyond the November 17 deadline.
In conclusion, President Biden’s message to House Republicans centers on the importance of fulfilling commitments related to government funding and aid to Ukraine. The president’s call for smoother negotiations and consistency in following through on agreements reflects his desire to prevent unnecessary hardships for the American people and to uphold support for Ukraine.