Biden is no where to be found. His absence comes at the worst time possible.
And Joe Biden has gone missing and the Democrats’ response to the news will completely shock you.
President Joe Biden’s decision to remain out of the spotlight while Congress scrambles to finalize a spending bill to keep the government running past Friday seems to have raised few concerns among Democrats, according to a report.
“Biden has remained conspicuously absent outside a brief statement issued by his press secretary — and for now, Democrats said there was little clamor for him to return,” Politico reports.
The article followed a dramatic day in Washington, marked by Elon Musk and President-elect Donald Trump derailing what would have been the first bipartisan spending bill in years.
Despite the urgent need to prevent a government shutdown, Politico noted that “no one seemed to be looking to Biden for answers — and the lame-duck president gave no indication he had any desire to provide them.”
California Democratic Rep. Mark Takano confirmed the sentiment, saying, “I haven’t gotten any message from President Biden, or heard of anything that he’s saying.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries was equally reserved, stating that he’s only been in “close contact with the administration” but refraining from confirming any direct communication with Biden himself.
As Politico observed, “Democrats appeared largely fine with Biden taking a back seat.” Even during a caucus meeting among House Democrats, Biden’s stance on the funding deadlock wasn’t a topic of discussion.
Instead, members reportedly referred to Elon Musk as “President Musk” in a pointed acknowledgment of his outsized influence in the unfolding crisis.
Biden’s allies are arguing that his silence is intentional, part of a “strategic decision” designed to place Trump at the center of the blame for any potential government shutdown.
The strategy, they contend, could weaken Trump politically before he even assumes office.
Nevertheless, the report revealed that Democrats have only communicated with White House staff during this period, with no confirmation of direct input from the president.
On Wednesday, Biden spent the day at his Wilmington, Delaware, residence while the bipartisan spending bill failed.
He stayed there through Thursday, maintaining a low profile with no events on his public schedule.
Politico framed the president’s absence as emblematic of a larger reality: “[T]he president’s absence highlights a jarring reality that officials in both parties said has become clear since the November election: While Biden technically still runs the country, Trump — and increasingly Musk — are the real captains now.”
Democrats, meanwhile, are reportedly pinning their hopes on shifting blame for a potential shutdown onto Trump and “President Musk.”
The Politico report came on the heels of a Wall Street Journal exposé, which revealed that some of Biden’s staff had observed signs of his weakening stamina as early as 2021, during the initial months of his presidency.
This raises questions about how much the media and White House staff covered up Joe Biden’s cognitive decline throughout his term.
Stay tuned to Prudent Politics.
