According to Mediaite, on a day filled with political upheaval, President Joe Biden found himself at the center of a whirlwind of events, all revolving around the sudden departure of Trump’s buddy Republican Representative Kevin McCarthy from the position of Speaker of the House. As the news broke that McCarthy had been voted out of his role, Biden was giving a speech in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, a speech primarily focused on announcing further student debt relief measures. However, he couldn’t ignore the tumultuous situation in Congress.
In his speech, Biden acknowledged the recent deal struck to avoid a government shutdown, a deal that played a significant role in McCarthy’s ousting. He called for an end to the “poisonous atmosphere” that has characterized Washington, D.C., and thanked McCarthy, whom he referred to as the “former speaker,” for his role in reaching the deal.
Following his speech, President Biden fielded questions from reporters. Among the inquiries was one about whether he was concerned that the turmoil in Congress, especially the chaos surrounding the Republican party, might jeopardize his domestic and foreign policy initiatives. With a chuckle, Biden admitted that dysfunction always concerned him. He pointed out that many of the programs he had championed had been passed on a bipartisan basis, and he expressed confidence that attempts to undo them would not succeed, despite the ambitions of some extreme MAGA Republicans.
As the press conference continued, NBC News White House correspondent Peter Alexander posed a lighthearted but intriguing question to the president. He asked for Biden’s advice to the next House speaker, given the recent developments. The president responded with laughter and a hint of humility, saying, “That’s above my pay grade.”
In a day marked by unexpected twists and political drama, Biden’s laughter and light-hearted response provided a moment of levity amidst the chaos of American politics.
Reporter: What’s your advice to the next House Speaker?
President Biden, smiling: That’s above my pay grade pic.twitter.com/JQA5djdB0Y
— Biden-Harris HQ (@BidenHQ) October 4, 2023
