This week, as government funding talks in Congress reached a boiling point, President Biden and his administration took a backseat. Instead, it was President-elect Trump and his allies who stepped into the spotlight, trying to work out a deal for a continuing resolution, as the threat of a government shutdown grew closer.
The White House didn’t offer much in the way of explanations when questioned about Biden’s absence. They suggested that it was up to Republicans to clean up the mess they created. But Biden’s silence, with no clear signs of his involvement as the deadline loomed, left some wondering if it would hurt his legacy as his time in office nears its end.
GOP strategist Doug Heye didn’t hold back, saying, “Biden is AWOL, and it’s fair to wonder if it’s because he’s just not up to the task.”
When reporters pressed White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre about Biden’s lack of public statements or appearances on the matter, she responded by saying it was part of a strategy to show that the ball was in Republicans’ court. But the more questions came in, the clearer it became that the situation was growing increasingly uncomfortable, especially with a potential government shutdown just around the corner.
It was also noticeable that no one seemed to be pushing Biden to jump in and help reach a resolution. In fact, some Democrats seemed ready for the end of the Biden years, with one saying, “The bigger story is that no one is asking him to be involved.”
Biden’s low-key approach might be because he’s in “lame duck” status, as former Rep. Carlos Curbelo put it. Even if Biden did speak up, would anyone be listening at this point?
As for Trump, he’s been fully engaged, even blocking an initial agreement and demanding a debt ceiling negotiation before he takes office. His more hands-on approach contrasted sharply with Biden’s quiet stance.
Some Democrats, however, argue that this isn’t Biden’s issue to deal with. Former Rep. Joe Crowley explained that the struggles in Congress are more of a Republican problem, particularly given Speaker Mike Johnson’s struggles to unite his party. “How’s he going to do this with even less of a majority?” Crowley wondered.
Even so, some worry that Biden could be blamed for a shutdown during his final days. Trump, ever the strategist, took to calling for a shutdown while Biden is still president to shift any potential blame onto him.
It’s a complicated situation, with echoes of past shutdowns, like the one during Trump’s presidency in 2019. The public’s reaction to these shutdowns has been mixed, with both Republicans and Democrats sharing the blame at various points in history.
While Biden’s decision to stay out of the limelight might seem like a way to avoid further drama, some argue it only highlights the lack of leadership in Washington. But with a new president on the horizon, it may be that Biden’s role in the current situation is already fading into the background.
In the end, whether Biden’s approach was wise or not remains to be seen, but it’s clear that the government funding fight is one mess Republicans will have to clean up on their own.
