5/19/2023, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan held a press gaggle in Hiroshima, Japan. Joe Biden is currently in Japan participating in the 2023 G7 Summit. Reporters on Friday peppered Jake Sullivan and Karine Jean-Pierre with questions about the looming default. Debt ceiling talks are on hold over “unreasonable” White House demands as a default looms. Joe Biden waited 97 days to engage in debt ceiling talks with House Speaker McCarthy and other congressional leaders.

We are days away from the US government defaulting and Joe Biden refuses to budge after House Republicans passed a resolution. Biden refuses to negotiate with McCarthy. KJP and Jake Sullivan repeated old, tired talking points and insisted Biden is taking the debt ceiling negotiations seriously

Fox News reporter Peter Doocy asked Karine Jean-Pierre what Joe Biden has been doing the last several hours since he has yet to be briefed on the debt ceiling meetings that took place back in DC. “What was [Biden] doing for the last several hours while they were in these meetings?” Doocy asked.

“They were having conversations, right? They were on the Hill,” KJP said. “Couldn’t he call in?” Doocy asked. Karine Jean-Pierre became visibly irritated: “Look, Peter…”

Karine Jean-Pierre Has No Answer When Peter Doocy Asks Her What Biden Was Doing During Negotiations
Doocy: And you just said that you’re assuming the President will be updated momentarily by the team. What was he doing for the last several hours while they were in these meetings?

KJP: Well, the — they were having conversations. Right? They were on the Hill, the negotiators.

Doocy: Right. And —
KJP: But how — how would he —
Doocy: And it’s the middle of the night here. I’m just curious what he did —
KJP: Yeah, but how would he be updated if they’re still having conversations on the Hill? It just ended moments ago.

Doocy: Couldn’t he call in?
KJP: Look — look, Peter —
Doocy: He just conducted —
KJP: Look — wait — look, Peter —
Doocy: — the first year of his term, he conducted — because of the COVID pandemic — by video conference. Is that not possible right now?
KJP: Look, Peter, we’re going to give the the space to these negotiators … so, he continues to — he continue to hold the line in that very — in that way. And so, look, we’re going to have the negotiators have their conversation … so, the President is going to get an update from his team, as he did last night, as he’s done the last couple of days. I’m just going to keep going. Go ahead.

Karine Jean-Pierre: Biden Definitely Trusts VP Harris On Budget Negotiations
Doocy: So, the last time that we got this close to a debt ceiling default, President Obama deputized his Vice President to lead the negotiations. Why doesn’t President Biden trust Vice President Harris to lead these negotiations —

KJP: Well —
Doocy: — while he’s in Asia?
KJP: Well, I disagree with your — the premise of your question. The President does — does —
Doocy: She’s in Los Angeles.
KJP: Well — well, let me —
Doocy: She could be at the Capitol. Why isn’t she?
KJP: The President entrusts the Vice President, as we all know, as we have stated many times. She — she was in the meeting that — with the congressional members that occurred very recently, right before the President left for Japan. She has been in regular conversations, as well, and has been in — in conversations with the President. He has taken her consult and listened to her advice, as he always does on many issues. This is one of many issues …

Q: Why hold on to semantics? Dems would never, ever give away? A: separate budget & spending
Reporter: Why is it important to hold on to the semantics? Because, like, clearly, there are discussions about Democrats giving away things that they would never, ever want to give away. So, I mean, there is a negotiation, and it’s being prompted by something. So, if not the debt limit, then what is this negotiation being prompted by?

KJP: There’s a budget negotiation. This happens every year … And, look, the President has been very clear: Default is not negotiable. You cannot negotiate on … That has been very clear … When it comes to default, it is not negotiable. And we should not — we should be doing — moving that forward without conditions.

Reporter: regular order under, sort of, extraordinary circumstances, perhaps.
KJP: Look, we’re having a separate discussion — a separate discussion on budget and spending priorities …
Reporter: If there’s no deal on the budget, then the debt ceiling doesn’t get lifted. Correct?
KJP: Here’s the thing: That shouldn’t be the case. It should not be the case …

Q: logistics A: good faith, two separate track, very, very clear
Reporter: I have a question about the logistics of this, because you say that they’re

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Lack of Urgency: ‘What Was Biden Doing?’ Definitely Trusts VP Harris On Budget Negotiations