President Joe Biden downplayed recent issues that tensions in U.S. debt restrict negotiations may result in a catastrophic U.S. default, saying Republicans and Democrats will nonetheless be capable to attain an settlement.

“Not at all,” Biden mentioned Saturday in Hiroshima, Japan, when requested if he was involved with the state of the talks.

Biden informed reporters there are sometimes hiccups in negotiations and that the 2 sides may bridge their variations.

“I still believe we’ll be able to avoid a default and we’ll get something decent done,” he mentioned throughout a gathering with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

“It goes in stages,” Biden added. “What happens is the first meetings weren’t all that progressive. The second ones were. The third one was. And then what happens is the carriers go back to the principals and say this is what what we’re thinking about. And then people put down their claim.”

The president’s confidence, primarily based on the ebbs and flows of negotiations, was in stark distinction to the tone struck by White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and White House communications director Ben LaBolt. Jean-Pierre kicked off a press briefing from Hiroshima Saturday saying there have been “real differences between the two sides,” and LaBolt later issued a press release that known as for Republicans to “negotiate in good faith.”

A Republican walkout of talks Friday in Washington shattered hopes that negotiators have been nearing a deal to lift the debt restrict, sending shares plunging. White House and GOP officers resumed conferences late Friday, nonetheless, and deliberate to reconvene Saturday. Biden’s aides up to date him on the scenario at 10 a.m. Saturday in Hiroshima, the place he’s attending the G-7 leaders summit.

Comments from some Republicans and White House officers indicated that there are nonetheless main hurdles to clear till a deal may very well be reached. Asked if he’s assured the events would attain a deal in time to stop default, Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., a key ally of Speaker Kevin McCarthy, mentioned “no.”

“This was a candid discussion about realistic numbers, a realistic path forward, and something that truly changes the trajectory of this country’s spending and debt,” mentioned Rep. Garret Graves, R-La., McCarthy’s hand-picked negotiator.

LaBolt known as on Republicans to think about elevating revenues as a part of the price range and debt restrict talks, one thing they’ve refused to do. Instead, GOP lawmakers have demanded deep spending cuts and work necessities for entitlement applications that Democrats have lengthy opposed.

“There remains a path forward to arrive at a reasonable bipartisan agreement if Republicans come back to the table to negotiate in good faith,” LaBolt mentioned in a press release.

The debt restrict struggle, which may set off a first-ever U.S. funds default, threatens to inflict ache on the worldwide financial system. It has shadowed Biden’s abroad journey. The president postponed journey to Australia and Papua New Guinea with a purpose to return to Washington for the ultimate levels of negotiation. The scenario lower quick a visit designed to advance Biden’s objectives of countering China within the Indo-Pacific area.

Biden mentioned he was sorry for the postponement and reiterated his dedication to journey to Australia sooner or later.

“I truly apologize to you for having you to come here rather than me be in Australia right now,” the president informed the Australian premier. “But we have a little thing at home I got to pay attention to.”

Albanese mentioned that he understood the scenario and that he appeared ahead to attending the state dinner Biden invited him to attend on the White House this 12 months.

“I’m saddened that you’re unable to come down next week,” Albanese mentioned. “But I understand the circumstances that you’re dealing with. I would have done exactly the same thing. All politics are local as you and I both understand.”