Starting Thursday morning, Washington found itself in a state of turmoil. Congress was trying to avoid a government shutdown, but negotiations broke down after Republican presidential hopeful Trump lashed out. The situation became increasingly chaotic as divisions within both the Democratic and Republican parties grew over the budget.
House Speaker Mike Johnson confidently declared Friday afternoon that he believed the government would not shut down at 12:01 AM the following day. Yet, in the midst of this, the 82-year-old sitting President Joe Biden remained silent. He did not appear in public, nor did he issue any statements or declarations. Instead, Biden’s spokesperson, Karine Jean-Pierre, took on the task of defending the administration, repeatedly criticizing the Republicans at the White House press briefing, accusing them of undermining a compromise reached before Trump’s intervention and of creating the very problems they now had to solve.
However, almost all the journalists present questioned Biden’s silence, which visibly irritated Jean-Pierre. She responded, “Did you not hear me? I’m speaking on behalf of the President of the United States, I speak directly for him.” Despite this, the media and public’s dissatisfaction with Biden’s silence was palpable. AFP commented that, for the “Commander-in-Chief,” Trump’s resurgence was not just a political rebuke but a personal humiliation.
Biden’s Political Struggles and Physical Decline
By 2023, Biden’s prospects for re-election appeared increasingly uncertain. Though he had spent fifty years in politics and was once confident about winning a second term, the reality seemed far less hopeful. Recently, Biden’s physical condition became a growing topic of media attention. At 82, Biden appeared tired and frail during public appearances. In July, while visiting Angola, the Angolan president had to steady Biden’s arm to prevent him from falling. At a roundtable discussion with African leaders, Biden seemed somewhat disoriented. During a visit to Brazil, a brief speech deep in the tropical forests gave the impression of a president nearing the twilight of his life. Turning slowly, Biden walked away from the podium, disappearing into the leaves.
Against this backdrop, Biden has become more distant from the media. He is one of the most reclusive U.S. presidents in recent decades. During his recent overseas trips, he held no press conferences—something that, while not unusual, has become increasingly significant. For a president whose speeches often trail off unfinished, spontaneous exchanges with the press have become rare.
The Dilemma of American Politics: Biden’s Resignation and Trump’s Pushback
Throughout Biden’s presidency, the U.S. has struggled with soaring inflation, unemployment, and other economic challenges. Despite these issues, Biden did not openly address them but instead defended his ambitious reindustrialization plan in a recent op-ed. However, the public’s response was lukewarm, and the details of his plan remained vague. Biden’s words seemed unable to resonate with the American public.
Meanwhile, more articles emerged about his declining health. A June report in The Wall Street Journal about Biden’s frailty stirred anger within the Democratic camp, with reports of the White House creating a “bubble” around him. This “bubble” supposedly kept the public unaware of his lighter schedule and struggles to focus. Biden, however, did not publicly contest these reports.
Biden has also increasingly focused on his family life. He has broken his past promises, notably pardoning his son Hunter Biden, who had faced legal trouble. Just this week, he visited the graves of his first wife and their young daughter, who died in a car accident in 1972, to pay his respects.
Yet, even as Biden seeks solace in family, a portion of the American public continues to harbor animosity toward him. On November 11, during a small military ceremony commemorating his late son Beau, who died of brain cancer in 2015, one attendee wearing a red “Make America Great Again” hat stared at Biden with visible hostility.
Trump and Musk: The Clash of Old and New Power
As the political situation grew more tense, Trump once again made his move. On Friday, Congress passed a bill that would fund the federal government, avoiding a shutdown. The bill also included over $100 billion in aid for areas hit by natural disasters. However, despite this apparent political compromise, Trump and billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk made their opposition to the bill clear, adding to the chaos.
Both Trump and Musk criticized the bill as too expensive, accusing it of driving the U.S. toward “bankruptcy.” Musk, on his social media platform X, called for Congress to “scrap the bill,” condemning its excessive spending. Trump followed suit, denouncing the bill as “extraordinarily costly.” Their combined opposition quickly derailed the measure and added fuel to Trump’s ongoing bid for a second term. It also served as a prelude to Trump’s return to the White House, bringing with it his uncompromising style that often leads to chaos.
What’s more, Musk’s increasing influence has created a new dynamic. Some Democratic lawmakers have even mocked the idea that Trump, once president, would become a mere “subordinate” to Musk, whose power has only grown in recent months.
Republican Division: A Difficult Compromise
Trump and Musk’s opposition to the bill led to deepening divisions within the Republican Party. House Speaker Mike Johnson, under pressure from the Democrats, tried to revise the budget proposal in an attempt to reach a compromise. However, many conservative lawmakers refused to accept any proposal that did not include budget cuts to offset the new aid. This only added to the deadlock.
Republican leaders, including James Comer, warned that, in order to pass any bill, it would clearly need support from the Democrats. As the situation unfolded, the bill passed without raising the U.S. debt ceiling—a major sticking point for Trump. The former president had made it clear that he would “fight to the death” against any new budget agreement that didn’t include provisions for raising the debt limit.
Despite his earlier opposition, Trump remained silent about the new deal. By Saturday afternoon, he had yet to issue a public statement about the bill’s passage. Mike Johnson, after the vote, said he had been in “contact” with Trump and was “pleased” with the outcome. Musk also praised Johnson’s “excellent work” in renegotiating the budget on X.
Conclusion: The Political Whirlpool of America
The situation in Washington, D.C. remains fraught with uncertainty and conflict. Biden’s silence and Trump’s resurgence signal that American politics may enter an even more tumultuous phase in the coming months. Will Biden manage to secure a second term despite mounting challenges? Will Trump and Musk’s alliance propel the Republican Party back into power? These questions remain unanswered, but one thing is certain: the political stage in the U.S. will continue to host complex battles with no easy resolutions.
