Joe Biden Faces Backlash After Refusing to Call Southern Border a 'Crisis'

President Joe Biden faced backlash online on Saturday after he said he would not call the situation at the southern border a "crisis."

Biden continues to face bipartisan criticism over his handling of the U.S.-Mexico border as the country continues to experience a high number of migrant border crossings. There were more than 2.4 million encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border during the 2023 fiscal year, up from roughly 1.7 million in 2021, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data. Republicans say the uptick in migrants is a direct result of Biden's border policies, which they say incentivize illegal immigration. Other experts, however, say other factors including political and financial instability in some Central American countries drive migration to the U.S.

In addition, many of these migrants have been bused from Texas to Democratic-controlled "sanctuary cities," which protect undocumented immigrants from deportation, sparking a new wave of Democratic criticism as Biden seeks to quell concerns about immigration ahead of the 2024 election.

On Saturday while speaking to reporters on the White House South Lawn, the president was asked if he would call the situation at the southern border a "crisis"

"No, but I wish they would react. I've been pushing them—my Republican colleagues— since I got into office. I think we have to make major changes at the border. I've been pushing it. I'm prepared to make significant alterations at the border. And there are negotiations going on for the last five weeks, so I'm hopeful we'll get there," Biden responded.

Newsweek has reached out to Biden and the White House via email for comment.

However, Biden's remarks have since made its way to X, formerly Twitter, sparking backlash.

X user stopsleepyjoe wrote: "Why do democrats just lie and completely ignore the crisis at the border as if it isn't happening. Does joe and the Dems think the American people are stupid or can't see? Tell him to ask a border town resident and see if they say it's a crisis."

While X user Politics15419 added, "He's an embarrassment!"

Former congressional candidate Jack Lombardi II, an Illinois Republican, wrote, "Joe Biden says there is NO CRISIS at the southern border. Which confirms my suspicions. The invasion is on purpose and is why this election objection was filed. What do you have to say to Joe Biden?"

X user, Elon Musk (Parody) commented, "Biden says there is no border problem. Is this man delusional?"

However, X user TheTruthIsBlue seemed to disagree with the criticism and wrote, "Republicans are intentionally causing crisis at the border in order to set up Joe Biden. They purposely blocked funding to support and protect our border, then cried crisis at the border."

Biden's comments come as House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, is negotiating with other congressional leaders to reach a deal to provide funding for Ukraine and Israel amid their ongoing wars with Russia and Hamas respectively, as well as for the U.S-Mexico border. Late last year, Biden requested Congress to authorize roughly $106 billion in additional aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and the southern border, but the package has faced resistance from conservatives who say aid for Ukraine should be separate from funding for the U.S.-Mexico border.

Last week, Biden similarly pointed out at congressional Republicans who he said have refused to consider his plan to "completely overhaul" the "broken immigration system."

"They rejected my recent request for an additional $3.5 billion to secure the border and funds for 2,000 new asylum personnel and personnel and 100 new immigration judges so people don't have to wait years to get their claims adjudicated, which they have a right to make a claim legally," he said. "And the failure to pass and fund this comprehensive plan has increased challenges that we're seeing at our southwest border."

The president said that until Congress takes action, his administration is "going to work to make things better at the border using the tools that we have available to us now."