President Biden developed a strong working relationship with Mitch McConnell over the years. The same isn't true for him and new Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Ahead of their first Oval Office sit-down last week, McCarthy responded to a similar question with a lengthy verbal shrug.
When McCarthy was fighting for his job last month in round after round of speaker votes, Biden and McConnell were holding a political event together marking the bipartisan infrastructure law."I asked permission if I could say something nice about him," Biden joked as he praised McConnell from the stage."I said I'd campaign for or against him, whichever helped most. Mitch: it wasn't easy to get this done.
President Biden and Leader McConnell have known each other for decades. In this 2015 file photo, Biden — then vice president — and McConnell participated in a ceremonial swearing-in.Here's how Biden and McConnell worked on a debt ceiling deal Back in 2011, the talks had stalled, and default was looming, by the time Biden and McConnell sat down together.
"We understand what the Speaker is going through," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Wednesday."He has a caucus that has put forth some pretty extreme ideas. Some extreme options in front of the American people. Cutting Medicare, cutting Social Security. That is what he's dealing with."
"I've always thought they could have a good relationship," he said."I think they are both career public servants. I think they are both extremely political. I think they are both pragmatic. I think they are both 'hail-fellow-well-met.' And I think they can both make a deal."
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