Biden Says He’s ‘Blameless’ If Debt Default Strikes

During a press conference in Hiroshima, Japan, following a G-7 meeting, Joe Biden vociferously denied any personal blame should the United States default on its national debt. The deflection came after Republicans in Congress pushed Biden to engage in much-needed debt ceiling talks.

His comments appeared strategically framed to cast Republicans as the root of the potential financial debacle. “I think there are some MAGA Republicans in the House who know the damage that it would do to the economy, and because I am president, and presidents are responsible for everything, Biden would take the blame,” Biden stated.

Critics, however, view Biden’s remarks as an attempt to sidestep accountability, given the ongoing financial crisis and the President’s delayed engagement in negotiations. For example, McCarthy noted last week that Joe Biden “waited 97 days to engage in debt ceiling talks” with congressional leaders.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) accused Biden of resorting to scare tactics instead of engaging in substantive dialogue.

“It’s all politics all the time, and he consistently goes to the hard left,” said Cruz, adding, “He should be sitting down and working out a deal, working out a compromise.”

Biden’s suggestion that the Fourteenth Amendment allows him to raise the debt ceiling without congressional approval unilaterally has been met with sharp skepticism. Cruz and numerous legal experts argue that such a move would not hold up in court, with the Texas senator stating, “Biden’s position on the Fourteenth Amendment is legally frivolous.”

Although Biden acknowledged that legal disputes could postpone a default, his assertions have done little to quell the critics who argue for more serious engagement and less blame-gaming. Republicans are keen to cut discretionary spending – the portion of spending that Congress controls annually – but find Biden resistant to negotiating on these terms.

This delicate financial dance further underlines the need for a genuine bipartisan discussion. A White House spokesperson hinted at this solution: “A responsible, bipartisan budget agreement remains possible if both sides negotiate in good faith.”

The current stalemate does little to ease fears of a potential default, and it is becoming increasingly clear that a solution requires more than just pointing fingers. Unfortunately, whether President Biden will step up and actively negotiate remains uncertain.

While Biden frivolously claims, “Of course no one will blame me, I know you won’t, you’ll be saying Biden did a wonderful job,” it remains to be seen how Americans, facing an impending financial crisis, will ultimately view his handling of this dire situation. One thing is for certain: the blame game does not pay the nation’s bills.