President Joe Biden delivered a national unity speech at the National Prayer Breakfast.
“In our politics and in our lives, we too often see each other as adversaries rather than competitors. We see each other as enemies, not neighbors,” Biden said. “And as difficult as those times have been, if we look closely, we see the strength, the determination that has long defined America.”
The breakfast was held at the Capitol Visitor Center, and the 450 seats in the auditorium were filled with members of Congress, government officials and others.
Every president since Dwight Eisenhower has spoken at a breakfast that has drawn thousands in recent years.
The event is designed to bring people of different party preferences together, and next to Biden was Speaker of the House of Representatives Republican Kevin McCarthy. The president and the speaker have already started a discussion on raising the debt ceiling to avoid a default.
“We had a good meeting yesterday,” Biden said, referring to McCarthy and adding that they would “treat each other with respect.”
Citing the Bible, Biden said it was important “to love your neighbor as yourself.”
“That’s the hardest part, I think,” he said. “At least the hardest part here. It wasn’t so difficult before, but I’ve been here a long time. But it looks like it’s getting harder and harder.”
