Biden: House speaker drama is 'not my problem'
When it comes to the chaos that is choosing the next speaker of the House, President Biden is doing what world leaders do best and ... staying out of it.
"With regards to the fight over the speaker … that's not my problem," Biden told reporters Wednesday morning before leaving on a trip to Kentucky. "I just think it's a little embarrassing that it's taking so long."
The rest of the world is watching to see if the U.S. can "get our act together," he added, per Politico. "What I'm focused on is getting things done."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Biden's comments are in line with those of White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who on Tuesday said the president "certainly will not insert himself" into the speaker selection process, per Politico.
The lower chamber election has otherwise proven a nightmare for aspiring speaker Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who has repeatedly failed to garner the votes required to secure the position thanks to a group of rebelling conservatives. As of Wednesday afternoon, the widely-watched stalemate had extended into a second day and a sixth vote (which he lost).
The California lawmaker needs 218 votes to win if all members of the House are voting; Republicans control 222 seats, meaning McCarthy can afford just a few GOP detractors, per The New York Times.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
6 charming homes for the whimsical
Feature Featuring a 1924 factory-turned-loft in San Francisco and a home with custom murals in Yucca Valley
By The Week Staff Published
-
Big tech's big pivot
Opinion How Silicon Valley's corporate titans learned to love Trump
By Theunis Bates Published
-
Stacy Horn's 6 favorite works that explore the spectrum of evil
Feature The author recommends works by Kazuo Ishiguro, Anthony Doerr, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Trump starts term with spate of executive orders
Speed Read The president is rolling back many of Joe Biden's climate and immigration policies
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump pardons or commutes all charged Jan. 6 rioters
Speed Read The new president pardoned roughly 1,500 criminal defendants charged with crimes related to the Capitol riot
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
With Cuba reinstated, US State Sponsors of Terrorism list expands back to four
The Explainer How the handful of countries on the U.S. terrorism blacklist earned their spots
By David Faris Published
-
DeSantis appoints Florida's top lawyer to US Senate
Speed Read The state's attorney general, Ashley Moody, will replace Sen. Marco Rubio in the Senate
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Democrats have many electoral advantages'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Five things Biden will be remembered for
The Explainer Key missteps mean history may not be kind to the outgoing US president
By Elliott Goat, The Week UK Published
-
Pam Bondi downplays politics at confirmation hearing
Speed Read Trump's pick for attorney general claimed her Justice Department would not prosecute anyone for political reasons
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Biden warns of oligarchy in farewell address
Speed Read The president issued a stark warning about the dangers of unchecked power in the hands of the ultra-wealthy
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published