President Biden addresses nation after passage of debt ceiling bill
OF A 12 STORY BUILDING. IT HAPPENED ON FIRST AVENUE AND 120th STREET. FOUR PEOPLE SUFFERING MINOR INJURIES. CAUSE OF THE FIRE UNDER INVESTIGATION. >>> PRESIDENT BIDEN ADDRESSED THE NATION FOLLOWING THE PASSAGE OF A BIPARTISAN DEBT CEILING BILL. >> THIS IS THE FIRST OVAL OFFICE ADDRESS THE PRESIDENT HAS EVER GIVEN AND IT COMES AT AN UNUSUAL TIME. FRIDAY NIGHT HEADING INTO SUMMER MONTHS. CRITICS SUGGEST HE IS TRYING TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT FROM A TRIP AND FALL HE TOOK THIS WEEK, BUT MR. BIDEN SAYS HE WANTS TO EMPHASIZE UNITY. >> I KNOW BIPARTISANSHIP IS HARD AND UNITY
IS HARD, BUT WE CAN NEVER STOP TRYING. >> Reporter: PRESIDENT BIDEN TOOK A VICTORY LAP WITH HIS DEBT CEILING AGREEMENT HE BROKERED WITH HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN McCARTHY. >> THE AMERICAN PEOPLE GOT WHAT THEY NEEDED. REVERTED AN ECONOMIC CRISIS. ECONOMIC COLLAPSE. >> Reporter: INDEED, THOSE WHO DID NOT GET WHAT THEY WANTED INCLUDED SOME DEMOCRATS. >> THIS IS ABOUT PAYING THE RANSOM TO A BUNCH OF HOSTAGE TAKERS. AND THAT IS NOT HOW WE SHOULD RUN THIS GOVERNMENT. >> Reporter: THE BILL ESSENTIALLY FREEZES DOMESTIC SPENDING FOR TWO YEARS AND HIKES PENTAGON SPENDING BY 3%, BUT THAT WAS NOT
ENOUGH FOR SOME GOP HARDLINERS. >> THE PEOPLE WHO NEGOTIATED THIS — I WOULDN’T LET THEM BUY ME A CAR.
