Joe Biden Considers Himself “Blameless” if the US Defaults on Debt: “I’ve done my part”

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President Joe Biden has asserted that he would bear no blame if the United States defaults on its debt in the coming days. Speaking at a news conference during his visit to Hiroshima, Japan, where he engaged in discussions with G-7 nations, Biden addressed the ongoing negotiations and the potential repercussions of default. He accused certain “MAGA Republicans” of intentionally seeking to cause an economic crash ahead of his re-election effort.

Emphasizing his own efforts in negotiations, Biden stated, “I’ve done my part,” and called for the other side to reconsider their positions, as some proposals were deemed unacceptable. A follow-up question from Fox News’ Peter Doocy queried whether Biden would be held blameless in the event of a default. In response, Biden joked, “Of course, no one will blame me; I know you won’t; you’ll be saying Biden did a wonderful job.” He added that based on the merits of his proposals, he would consider himself blameless but acknowledged that politically, no one would be blameless in such a situation.

.@POTUS 'Not My Fault' @JoeBiden says if the United States debt ceiling is not raised & the country defaults on its obligations, "on the merits, based on what I have offered, I would be blameless."#Blameless $SPY $SPX pic.twitter.com/vJOdUVG7G5

— Joe (@9Joe9) May 21, 2023

Biden expressed his concerns about the potential damage a default could inflict on the economy. He mentioned that some “MAGA Republicans” in the House might be aware of this, and their actions could be influenced by their desire to ensure Biden is not reelected. While Biden claimed the authority to raise the debt limit using the 14th Amendment unilaterally, legal experts have questioned the validity of this argument.

Negotiations between Republicans and the White House have hit a snag, with significant differences remaining between the two sides. The primary point of contention lies in determining which areas of discretionary spending should be reduced. Despite the challenges, the White House has expressed hope for a responsible and bipartisan budget agreement if both sides negotiate in good faith.

As the deadline for addressing the debt ceiling approaches, the potential for a default looms large. The outcome of these negotiations will have far-reaching consequences for the U.S. economy and could impact Biden’s presidency. It remains to be seen how the situation will unfold and whether a resolution can be reached to avert a potential crisis.