Bipartisanship

‘It was like the old days’: Biden praises meeting with Republican and Democratic lawmakers

The Wednesday gathering in the Oval Office to discuss supply chain issues provided a rare glimpse of the bipartisanship the president has been calling for.

By BENJAMIN DIN

President Joe Biden had high praise for what he called a “very productive” Oval Office meeting with Republican and Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday, offering a rare glimpse of the bipartisanship he has been calling for since taking office.

“It was one of the best meetings, best meetings we’ve had,” Biden said in remarks shortly before signing an executive order to secure critical supply chains. “It was like the old days. People were on the same page.”

The meeting was a small show of the cooperation Biden has sought, in an attempt to unite the nation after the bitter partisanship that defined the last four years. However, it has largely eluded the president in the opening weeks of his presidency, which has instead been consumed with the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump and fierce Republican opposition to his proposed coronavirus relief plan.

Another point of contention has been opposition to some of his Cabinet nominations, which has been at times bipartisan. However, Biden on Wednesday made it clear that he didn’t blame the Senate for the delayed confirmations.

“I blame it on the failure to have a transition that was rational,” Biden told reporters after his remarks. “As you know, previous administrations had a significant number of their Cabinet confirmed before they even were sworn in. That’s the tradition.”

The president and Vice President Kamala Harris had met with eight senators and three House members earlier in the day. The group discussed supply chain issues that have caused problems, such as shortages in semiconductor chips and personal protective equipment needed by health professionals working at the front lines of the pandemic.

Sen. John Cornyn and Rep. Michael McCaul, both Texas Republicans, echoed Biden’s comments, describing the meeting to reporters outside the West Wing as “very good” and “very positive.”

“The president was very receptive, as was the vice president,” Cornyn said. “He said, ‘We’re all in.’ We all understand this is important, not only to our economy, but to our national security, because these cutting-edge, high-end semiconductors — they operate on everything from the F-35 fifth-generation stealth fighter to our cellphones. So it was very positive.”

Cornyn added that the group did not address the Covid-19 relief package during the meeting.

McCaul said he was pleased that the president considered the issue “a high priority” and praised Biden for raising the matter “within the first four weeks of his presidency.”

Other Republicans in attendance were Sens. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Mike Braun of Indiana and Rob Portman of Ohio, as well as Rep. John Joyce of Pennsylvania. Of the Democrats, Sens. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Tammy Duckworth of Illinois and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, as well as Rep. Doris Matsui of California, were also present.