Biden on advice to next Speaker: ‘That’s above my pay grade’

President Biden on Wednesday called for Congress to “stop seeing each other as enemies” after the ouster of Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from the role of Speaker.

Biden, in remarks from the White House, bemoaned the “poisonous atmosphere” in Washington, D.C., as the House is without a Speaker after Democrats and eight Republicans voted to remove McCarthy.

The president noted that government funding will run out in November without congressional action, saying, “We cannot and should not again be faced with an eleventh-hour decision of brinkmanship that threatens to shutdown the government.”

“More than anything, we need to change the poisonous atmosphere in Washington,” Biden said. “You know, we have strong disagreements, but we need to stop seeing each other as enemies. We need to talk to one another, listen to one another, work with one another. We can do that.”

Biden said he was appreciative that lawmakers came together in bipartisan fashion this year to raise the debt ceiling and to keep the government open, mentioning McCarthy by name.

McCarthy was ousted as Speaker on Tuesday after Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) brought a motion to vacate in an effort to remove him. The White House did not weigh in on whether Democrats should have stepped in to save McCarthy’s job, and press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said officials will not wade into the debate over who the next Speaker should be.

Biden on Wednesday was asked what advice he had for McCarthy’s eventual replacement.

“That’s above my pay grade,” Biden said with a laugh.