President Joe Biden on Wednesday called the fight unfolding in the race for House speaker “embarrassing,” after House Republicans failed to coalesce around one candidate during three separate votes Tuesday.
“With regards to the fight over the Speaker … that’s not my problem,” Biden told reporters as he left the White House en route to Kentucky to tout the bipartisan infrastructure bill passed in 2021. “I just think it’s a little embarrassing that it’s taking so long,” he added, noting that “the rest of the world is looking” to see if we can “get our act together.”
“What I’m focused on is getting things done,” Biden said.
When asked Tuesday about the Biden’s thoughts on the speakership race, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters President Biden “certainly will not insert himself in that process,” saying the administration was “looking forward to working with congressional colleagues including Democrats, Republicans and Independents this year.”
On Tuesday, a handful of Republicans blocked Kevin McCarthy’s bid for speaker during three straight votes for the gavel, with McCarthy only losing support as the day wore on.
As the House GOP prepares to enter the second day of deliberation, it’s unclear whether McCarthy’s whip count has improved or how Republicans will proceed in their public infighting over the speaker’s gavel.
