The White House has rejected House Speaker Mike Johnson’s request for a meeting with President Joe Biden, citing that there is no need for negotiations. The refusal comes amidst border deal chaos and ongoing deadlock between the two parties on national security and border issues.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated, “What is there to negotiate? Really, truly, what is the one-on-one negotiation about when he’s been presented with exactly what he asked for? He’s negotiating with himself. He’s killing bills on his own.”
Johnson has been advocating for a bipartisan national security funding bill that includes border security provisions. However, the Senate recently passed a bipartisan border security package that Johnson has declared “dead on arrival” in the House. He has been seeking a meeting with Biden for several weeks to discuss border and national security issues, but the request has not been granted.
The rejection of Johnson’s request highlights the ongoing impasse between the two parties on crucial issues. Former President Donald Trump claimed credit for the collapse of the bipartisan border deal, while Biden blamed Trump for sabotaging the plan. The recent impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has further strained relations, with Biden criticizing the GOP for their actions.
The refusal to negotiate with Johnson raises concerns about the ability to find common ground on national security and border issues. As the deadlock continues, it remains to be seen how these issues will be addressed and resolved.
