Biden calls Republican speaker’s messy vote ’embarrassing’

President Joe Biden called the chaos on Capitol Hill over the speakership “embarrassing” as he left the White House Wednesday for a bipartisan event in Kentucky with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

“That’s not my problem, I just find it a little embarrassing that it’s taking so long,” Biden told reporters on the South Lawn after GOP Rep. Kevin McCarthy, long-sought to be elected Speaker of the House, died on Sept Tuesday could not achieve a majority after three ballots.

The president added that “the rest of the world is looking, they’re looking, you know, can we pull ourselves together,” noting that “that’s not a good look, that’s not a good thing” for the country.

When asked if he enjoyed seeing House Republicans in disarray, Biden responded, “No,” noting that things didn’t change immediately after the 6th speaker was selected.

“It doesn’t look good, it’s not good. This is the United States of America and I hope they pull themselves together,” he said.

President Joe Biden called the chaos on Capitol Hill over the speakership “embarrassing” as he headed to a bipartisan event in Kentucky with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Wednesday

President Joe Biden waves as he boards Air Force One for this trip to Kentucky on Wednesday to promote bipartisanship as the House remains embroiled in drama over who will be the next speaker

Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s (left) ascension to the speakership was derailed Tuesday when 20 Republicans finally voted to support Ohio Republican Rep. Jim Jordan (right) instead. Jordan was set to chair the House Judiciary Committee

Without a Speaker, members of the House of Representatives cannot be sworn in and business cannot be conducted.

“I have no idea,” Biden replied when asked who he thought the speaker would be.

Biden flew to Kentucky to campaign for the bipartisan infrastructure bill, where he will appear alongside fellow top Republican in Congress McConnell.

Also flying on Air Force One was former Senator Rob Portman, the Ohio Republican whose seat went to Trump-backed author JD Vance, who was sworn in Tuesday with the rest of his peers.

McConnell and Portman were among 19 Republicans who signed the infrastructure bill, which passed in August 2021.

Additionally, the $1.6 billion bridge project that Biden will present is the Brent Spence Bridge, which connects Covington, Kentucky to Cincinnati, Ohio.

Overall, the Infrastructure Act allocated $40 billion to rebuild the country’s crumbling bridges.

“I’m focused on getting things done,” Biden said upon departure. “And today I’m going to Kentucky and Ohio, among other places, to demonstrate that we can get things done. We passed a massive bill, bipartisan, and it’s working.”

“You can’t be the world’s #1 economy if you don’t have the world’s #1 infrastructure,” he added.

When specifically asked why, Kentucky Biden replied, “We worked like hell to get the most significant infrastructure bill in our United States history other than Eisenhower’s Interstate Highway System.”

It has been suggested that Biden, standing next to McConnell, was the split-screen moment the White House wanted as the House shenanigans continue.

“Look, I think our government has started to move the economy to where we’re investing in America again. How can you remain the world’s leading economy if you don’t have the greatest infrastructure in the world?’ mused Biden.

He also suggested that the drama was ultimately Congress’s problem when asked if he was concerned about his ability to govern since the House of Representatives has no speaker.

“I don’t,” he replied. “to rule Congress.”

McCarthy’s bid to be a speaker was derailed by 20 breakaway members representing the more conservative, pro-MAGA side of the Republican Party.

On the third vote, they were grouped around Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, who has said he doesn’t want the speakership and is content to take over the House Judiciary Committee from Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler.

This has brought the party to a stalemate, with both the pro-McCarthy faction and the “Never Kevins” interfering.

On Wednesday morning, former President Donald Trump also described the situation on his platform Truth Social as “embarrassing”.

“We had some really good conversations last night and now it’s time for all of our AMAZING members of the Republican House to VOTE FOR KEVIN, GET THE DEAL, TAKE THE VICTORY AND WATCH CRAZY NANCY PELOSI BACK HOME IN A VERY BROKEN CALIFORNIA FLYES THE ONLY ANSWER IN US HISTORY TO HAVE LOST THE ‘HOUSE’ TWICE!’ wrote the ex-president. “REPUBLICANS, DON’T MAKE A GREAT TRIUMPH INTO HUGE & EMBARRASSING DEFEAT.”

“IT’S TIME TO CELEBRATE, YOU DESERVE IT. Kevin McCarthy will do a good job, and maybe even a GREAT JOB – JUST WATCH!’ added Trump.