Joe Biden and Kamala Harris cancel holiday plans, rushes back to Washington amid crisis concerns

WASHINGTON, DC: President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have abruptly canceled their holiday plans, sparking widespread speculation about a potential crisis.

The sudden change in their schedules has drawn attention as the nation awaits clarification from the White House.

Kamala Harris abruptly cancels Los Angeles trip

Kamala Harris, originally scheduled to travel to Los Angeles on Thursday night, December 19, canceled her plans just hours before departure.

A statement from her office confirmed the change, citing internal meetings and briefings in Washington, DC, which will be closed to the press.

According to OK Magazine, Harris’ motorcade reportedly rushed back to the White House, further fueling public concern.

Joe Biden returns to the White House

President Joe Biden, who had planned to spend Christmas in his home state of Delaware, also returned to Washington.

The White House has yet to provide a statement explaining the president’s abrupt change of plans, leaving the public to speculate about the reason behind this unexpected move.

One plausible explanation for the sudden activity centers on the looming threat of a partial government shutdown.

With less than 24 hours left for Congress to pass a funding bill, federal agencies face the possibility of running out of money over the weekend.

A shutdown could send thousands of state employees home or force them to work without pay.

Efforts to pass a temporary funding measure have proved futile.

On Thursday, December 19, a stopgap bill failed to secure the necessary two-thirds majority in the House, with 235 members voting against it, including 38 Republicans.

Political tensions between Republicans and Democrats heighten

Republicans and Democrats initially reached a bipartisan agreement to keep the government running, but opposition from President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance has intensified the situation.

Both leaders criticized the bipartisan package, calling it “a failure” and urging Republican lawmakers to block it.

In his post on X, JD Vance wrote, "Republicans must get smart and tough. If Democrats threaten to shut down the government unless we give them everything they want, then call their bluff."

"It is Schumer and Biden who are holding up aid to our farmers and disaster relief. This chaos would not be happening if we had a real president. We will in 32 days!" he noted.

In response, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre urged Republicans to prioritize stability, stating, “Republicans need to stop playing politics with this bipartisan agreement or they will hurt hard-working Americans and create instability across the country.”