According to President Joe Biden, no one would blame him if the United States defaulted on its debts in the coming days.
Biden made the eyebrow-raising statement on Sunday (May 21) during a news conference in Hiroshima, Japan, where he traveled to meet with G7 nations.
Congressional Republicans forced Biden to the negotiating table after months of the White House claiming there would be no debating the issue.
Biden now claims that some “MAGA Republicans” are trying to achieve a default to crash the economy in an effort to sabotage his reelection bid.
“I’ve done my part,” Biden declared regarding the negotiations, adding that “it’s time for the other side to move their team positions” because a lot of what they’ve proposed is “unacceptable.”
That prompted Peter Doocy of Fox News to follow up at the end of the briefing, asking Biden if he thinks that “if there’s a breach, nobody can blame you?”
Biden replied, “Of course no one will blame me,” jokingly adding, “I know you won’t, you’ll be saying Biden did a wonderful job.”
“Would you be blameless in a default situation?” Doocy pressed.
Biden claimed that on the merits of his offer, he would be “blameless” but added that on the political spectrum, “no one would be blameless.”
Biden then went on to suggest that “some MAGA Republicans in the House” who are aware of the damage a default would cause want to default because of the notion that “Presidents are responsible for everything, Biden would take the blame,” claiming they believe “that’s one way to make sure Biden’s not re-elected.”
The President also argued that he could unilaterally raise the debt limit through the 14th Amendment.
Experts say the legal argument probably won’t hold up in court.
However, while Biden acknowledged that the legal dispute would not hold up, he added that the appeals process would push a final decision passed the default date.
