In a bid to address pressing issues related to foreign aid and border security, House Speaker Mike Johnson has expressed his desire for a one-on-one meeting with President Joe Biden. However, his requests for a meeting have been repeatedly denied by the White House, leading to further frustration and calls for intervention.

Johnson has been persistent in his efforts to discuss aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and border security with President Biden. On Wednesday, he reiterated his plea, urging the White House to take a more proactive role in resolving these matters, as Congress remains deadlocked.

Insisting on the need for urgent attention, Johnson stated, "There are very serious issues that need to be addressed, and if the speaker of the House cannot meet with the president of the United States, that's a problem." He expressed his willingness to engage in good faith but expressed confusion over the White House's hesitancy to arrange a meeting.

Responding to Johnson's requests, the White House pointed out his inconsistent positions on foreign aid and border security, emphasizing his rejection of two bipartisan Senate deals on these matters. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre remarked, "What is there to negotiate when he's been presented with exactly what he asked for? He's negotiating with himself and killing bills on his own."

Johnson has persistently sought a meeting with President Biden since their initial interaction with congressional leaders on January 17. Despite submitting a meeting request on multiple occasions, all appeals for a meeting have been declined by the White House, according to a source familiar with the requests.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana, a Republican, framed these rejections as evidence of Biden's inadequate attention to the crisis at the southern border. He argued, "If you don't care about one of the biggest crises facing our country to the point where the president won't even sit down with the speaker of the House to talk about ways to solve this problem... we're going to take this seriously."

The ongoing disagreements between Johnson and the White House have led to further frustration. The White House expressed exasperation at Johnson's negotiations seemingly with himself, questioning his evolving stances on foreign aid and border security.

Previously, Johnson had voiced support for tying supplemental funding for Ukraine and Israel to changes in immigration policy. However, when a deal was presented by bipartisan senators, he doubted its chances in the House, calling it "dead on arrival" due to the lack of perceived border security reform.

In response, the Senate resorted to passing a standalone $95 billion foreign aid bill, which excluded border changes. Johnson opposed this bill, arguing that it failed to address America's security concerns adequately.

Pressed on Republican proposals to resolve the border crisis and provide aid to Ukraine, Johnson did not provide specific solutions. He mentioned that the House Republican conference had numerous ideas on the table, stressing that they would address these crucial issues diligently.

The White House urged Johnson to bring the Senate foreign aid bill to the floor, expressing confidence in its bipartisan support. However, Johnson's course of action remains uncertain, leading to continued impasse and frustration surrounding foreign aid and border security.

As the urgent need for aid to Ukraine persists amidst Russia's invasion, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan emphasized the rising costs of inaction. He acknowledged the brave Ukrainians fighting on the front lines and stressed the need for swift action.

Continuing the heated rhetoric, Jean-Pierre accused Republicans opposing aid of "siding with Putin." The ongoing disagreements underscore the challenges facing Congress in finding common ground on crucial matters of foreign aid and border security.