America is rapidly approaching its June 1 debt ceiling deadline, the date by which the United States will default on its debts if an agreement between Democrats and Republicans to borrow more money is not reached.
While the White House has said it is "confident" in the president's bargaining prowess, a recent photograph of him and Vice President Kamala Harris has some expressing doubts.
The skeptics include Business Insider contributors Erin Snodgrass and Ayelet Sheffey, who pointed to an image taken of the negotiations on Tuesday.
How the debt ceiling showdown could play into China's hands and weaken US global power | Analysis https://t.co/ONM4gJUuwl
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) May 17, 2023
"Awkward stances and uncomfortable dispositions were on full display in the Oval Office this week as President Joe Biden and other high-ranking politicians returned to debt ceiling talks and emerged with little tangible progress," they wrote in an article published Wednesday.
The pair pointed to the "stunningly tense photograph" as something which helps to illustrate "just how difficult the negotiation process appears to be going."
They wrote that Biden "appeared positively flummoxed." Meanwhile, the vice president "looked like she wanted to be anywhere other than the Oval Office."
Meanwhile, Fox News reported on Friday that debt ceiling negotiations had "stalled," with one Republican lawmaker accusing the Biden administration of refusing to look at a "reasonable" compromise.
"We've decided to press pause because it's just not productive," Louisiana Republican Rep. Garret Graves was quoted as saying.
"Until people are willing to have reasonable conversations about how you can actually move forward and do the right thing, then we’re not gonna sit here and talk to ourselves," he added.
Graves also touted the Limit, Save, Grow Act, a Republican proposal to raise the debt ceiling in exchange for spending cuts.
"The House passed a strong bill, it has great savings in it. And it's responsible and it puts us on a path to bend the curve," he stated.
Fox News reported on Wednesday that the president flat out rejected a provision in the Limit, Save, Grow Act which requires able-bodied adults to work in order to qualify for Medicaid.
"I'm not going to accept any work requirements that's going to impact on medical health needs of people," Biden was quoted as telling reporters.
