On Thursday, the Senate approved the debt ceiling deal, sending the legislation to Joe Biden's desk. The President spoke on national television 24 hours later to explain the bill's implications to citizens. During his fifteen-minute speech, he highlighted the negotiations with Kevin McCarthy and spoke of a return to bipartisanship while celebrating the U.S. dodging default.
Biden broadcast live from the Oval Office, wearing his trademark pocket square and with photos of his family behind him. He began by listing point by point what would have happened if both parties had not reached an agreement: what he described as a very dark scenario for the country. He claimed that reaching a deal was "critical" because"the stakes could not have been higher."
He then commented on the White House's changing negotiations with McCarthy and his close associates, Patrick McHenry and Garrett Graves. The President first praised the speaker and his team because "we were able to get along and get things done. We were completely honest and respectful of each other. [...] Both parties acted in good faith and both kept their word," he continued.
Tune in as I deliver remarks on the passage of the bipartisan budget agreement. https://t.co/NAnAAvVmtG
— President Biden (@POTUS) June 2, 2023
He also had words for the other congressional leaders, whom he named only by last name: Jeffries, Schumer and McConnell. They knew how to "put the good of the country ahead of politics," managing to overcome "an economic crisis, an economic collapse, while at the same time, [...] cut spending and reduced the deficit for the first time."
Biden said the agreement is good news because "no one got everything they wanted, but the American people got what they needed." He also promised to enact the legislation on Saturday.
Biden in campaign mode towards 2024
While the President did not explicitly name Donald Trump, he referred to the fact that in the"previous four years," the public deficit had increased yearly and contrasted this with his commitment to continue reducing it in the coming years. He also recalled his episode during the State of the Union address, where some Republicans shouted at him for claiming that the Republican Party was seeking to cut social spending too much.
He also devoted a few minutes to his agenda. He pledged to work with Congress to further reduce spending and increase the federal government's coffers, making "the rich pay their fair share."
Finally, he dedicated a few words to bipartisanship, which he defined as "difficult" but necessary to move towards "progress," ensure prosperity and "maintain the promise of the United States for the whole world."
