President

joe

Biden used the first Oval Office speech of his presidency to declare victory after a bipartisan deal to raise the debt ceiling was passed by both chambers of Congress, preventing a default and economic chaos.

In the

13-

minute speech, the president praised White House negotiators and thanked speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield)

and his negotiators

for coming to a deal days before the Treasury would run out of money to pay the country’s bills.

Some Democrats feared the president had been too quiet during the weeks-long negotiations, allowing McCarthy to attract media attention. But Friday’s prime-time address from behind the Resolute Desk allowed him to speak directly to the American people, not at a time of looming crisis, but to, as he told the country, “report on a crisis averted.” ‘.

“

It was critical to reach an agreement, and that is very good news for the American people.

No one got everything they wanted, but the American people got what they needed,” Biden said. “We avoided an economic crisis and an economic collapse.”

rate

The president expects to sign the debt ceiling compromise into law on Saturday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Friday.

The legislation, which includes spending limits and some changes to energy permits and social programs, passed overwhelmingly in both houses of Congress. Some progressive Democrats who voted against the deal expressed concern about what they characterized as “hostage-taking” of the debt ceiling, or about the deal easing energy and making changes to social programs like SNAP, also known as food stamps. Members of the far-right Freedom Caucus also opposed the bill, arguing that it had not gone far enough in reducing government spending.

The president could use a win. Its approval ratings have stalled in the low 40s, dropping as debt ceiling negotiations intensified and fears of a catastrophic default mounted. He tripped and fell on stage after addressing graduates of the United States Air Force Academy on Thursday. A White House aide later tweeted to assure the public that the 80-year-old president was “just fine.”

Voters may not be paying close attention to the debt ceiling drama.

“At this point, people are probably moving into planning summer vacations and worrying about problems closer to home,”

Rose Kapolczynski

, a West Coast-based political consultant told The Times. “The debt limit is very important to America and the economy. But it’s pretty unclear.”

But voters mainly the Democrats and

independents

that Biden needs to win re-election tend to tell pollsters they want their leaders to compromise. According to a February PBS NewsHour/NPR/Marist poll, 70% of Americans believe it’s more important to compromise in the search for solutions than to stand firm in the face of an impasse. That figure was highest among Democrats and

independents

who said they support compromise at 83% and 69% respectively.

“Most voters want leaders from both parties to work together,” Kapolczynski said. “They also want leaders to stand up for what they believe in. Sometimes those two things conflict. But in this case, Biden felt like he had a deal that did both.”

Biden’s potential Republican competitors have rejected the deal. Former President Trump has said he would have allowed a default before admitting what the Republicans did; Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said the agreement would “send the country to bankruptcy.” Former Vice President Mike Pence said the deal “uses Washington to make small reforms.”

Presidents have traditionally used the Oval Office to convey messages of immense importance in times of national crisis and tragedy. President George W. Bush addressed the country from his office shortly after the September 11 attacks. President George HW Bush used his famous Oval Office speech to deliver a message about the dangers of drugs while holding a bag of what he described as crack cocaine.

President Obama gave his first Oval Office address in June 2010 after visiting the site of a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Before Biden’s speech on Friday, the last Oval Office speech was on January 13, 2021, when Trump condemned violence in the aftermath of the January 6 attack on the Capitol and called for calm ahead of Biden’s inauguration, an event that he did not acknowledge. or attend.