Biden blasts Republican lawmakers, telling them to "just get out of the way" as U.S. approaches debt ceiling

President Biden slammed Republicans Monday for refusing to help raise the debt ceiling, and he asked them to step aside if they're not willing to vote with Democrats to stop the nation from going into default.

"Republicans just have to let us do our job. Just get out of the way," he said at the White House. "If you don't want to help save the country, get out of the way, so you don't destroy it."  

The president said Democrats are willing to raise the debt ceiling alone this week but Republicans are stopping them, having blocked two attempts to suspend the debt limit in just the last week. Last Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer asked the Senate to agree to allow a simple majority to vote to raise the debt limit, but Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell objected, thereby blocking the vote from taking place.