Amidst the looming threat of a partial government shutdown, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre faced a barrage of questions on Friday regarding President Biden's conspicuous silence on the matter. Instead of addressing the President's lack of public statements, Jean-Pierre deflected blame onto Republicans, former President Trump, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and influential figures like Elon Musk, accusing them of orchestrating the crisis.

Jean-Pierre emphasized that Republicans were obstructing progress and creating the current predicament. She asserted that Biden's approach, honed by his extensive experience in Washington, was the most effective strategy for resolving the situation. While confirming that Biden had communicated with Democratic congressional leaders, she remained evasive about any direct conversations with Speaker Johnson.

The failure of a streamlined spending bill backed by Trump to pass the House on Thursday night further exacerbated the situation. Jean-Pierre attributed the bill's failure to Republicans reneging on a bipartisan agreement and succumbing to pressure from figures like Musk and Trump, who had criticized the initial, larger spending bill for its excessive expenditures. Musk subsequently endorsed the slimmed-down version, which ultimately failed to garner sufficient support.

Despite repeated attempts by reporters to elicit a comment on Biden's role, Jean-Pierre maintained that the President was actively leading, albeit behind the scenes. She reiterated the White House's stance that Republicans needed to prioritize the needs of the American people over the influence of wealthy individuals. Jean-Pierre also cautioned that a shutdown could impede the presidential transition process for the incoming administration.

In contrast, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise expressed confidence in the Republicans' plan to avert a shutdown, while Rep. Stephanie Bice suggested ongoing efforts to reach a final agreement.