According to the British "Daily Mail" reported on the 20th, US President Biden said at a press conference commemorating the anniversary of his inauguration on the 19th local time that 5 Republican senators told him that they were willing to vote with Democratic lawmakers to pass various bills, but they were worried that if they crossed the line, former President Trump would challenge them in the primary election.
U.S. President Joe Biden Image source: The Associated Press
Biden said, "There are 5 Republican senators chatting with me and bumping into me by chance... Or sit with me. They told me they agreed with whatever I said and made them do, 'But Joe, if I do, I'll be beaten in the primary'. We must break that situation and change must be made. ”
Biden said he himself was surprised that Trump still controlled the Republican Party. He asked reporters at the scene: "Can you imagine that a person who left office could intimidate the whole party and make them unwilling to vote for something that goes against his ideas, just because they are afraid of being defeated in the primary election?" ”
Former U.S. President Trump Image Source: The Associated Press
At a news conference, Biden said he did not expect Republicans to be so unsupportive in his first year in office. "I didn't expect such a determined effort to make sure the most important thing is for President Biden to accomplish nothing," he said. Think about it. Why are Republicans doing this? ”
He then referred to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, "I get along well with Mitch, I actually like him, but he has a straightforward goal, which is to make sure that nothing I do makes me look good in the American public mind, in his mind." It doesn't matter, I'm a big boy. ”
"I think the fundamental question is why did Mickey do this?" Biden asked. When a reporter pointed out that McConnell had also tried to undermine former President Barack Obama's agenda and asked why Biden was so surprised, he replied, "They simply didn't obstruct it as deliberately as they do now."
Mickey McConnell Image source: Reuters
But when asked to name who the Republicans were with the Democratic side, Biden refused, laughing and saying, "Of course not, are you kidding?" I have to keep it a secret."
Mary Bruce, a reporter for the ABC, noted that two Democratic senators, Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, blocked the "Rebuild a Better Future" bill and the obstruction of rule of procedure changes related to electoral reform, while Republican Senator Mitt Romney voted for conviction on both Trump impeachment cases. But he never received a call from the White House about electoral reform.
To this, Biden replied, "Listen, Romney went straight. One of the things we're doing is I'm trying to make sure that all the people in our party agree on this issue. I didn't call a lot of Republicans at all. (Edit: HHJ)