President Joe Biden got a little testy with a reporter when he was asked about debt ceiling negotiations.
After the president met with congressional leaders on Tuesday, a reporter asked him about an assertion made by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).
“Speaker McCarthy said that he asked you numerous times if there was anywhere in the federal budget for cuts, but he did not get an answer, so…” the reporter began.
However, Biden interjected as he said, “He got a specific answer. He got a specific answer again, today.”
“Which is what?” the reporter asked.
Biden shot back, “Well, you didn’t listen, either, so why should I even answer the question?”
“We cut the deficit by $160 billion, billion, b-i-l-l-i-o-n, dollars on the Medicare deal. We cut the deficit by raising the tax on… 55 corporations that made $40 billion to 15%. And the list goes on,” he added.
Watch the video below:
Biden lashes out at a reporter for asking him about budget cuts: "You didn't listen either, so why should I even answer the question? We cut the deficit by $160 billion! Billion! B-I-L-L-I-O-N." pic.twitter.com/BIRKt6DSET
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) May 9, 2023
The reporter then asked if there was any room for negotiations with what McCarthy is proposing regarding the debt ceiling.
“What’s he proposing? Did he tell you?” the president asked,
He went on, “No, no, I’m not being facetious. Did he tell you what he’s proposing?”
“Do you know? I’m not being a wise guy. You all are very, very informed people. Do you know what that bill cuts?” he asked.
When the reporter asserted there is a “long list” of spending cuts in House Republicans’ bill to raise the debt ceiling, Biden asked, “Does it say what it’s going to cut? Or does it just say generically it’s going to cut?”
After a pause, he asked, “You get the problem?”
The exchange came after Biden met with congressional leaders on the issue of the debt ceiling, the limit the U.S. can borrow to pay its debt.
Biden has insisted Congress pass a bill to raise the debt ceiling without any conditions. However, Republicans have been pushing to cut spending and raise the debt limit.
The president called the meeting on Tuesday “productive,” while McCarthy said he “didn’t see any new movement.” The leaders are expected to meet to discuss the matter again on Friday.
