Jean-Pierre faced several questions about the rapidly closing window to broker a deal but would not say if Biden and White House officials agreed with McCarthy.

Christian Datoc, Washington Examiner

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre repeatedly declined to state Tuesday when President Joe Biden and House Republicans must reach a debt ceiling agreement in order to allow Congress time to pass the measure and avoid a national default.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced this month that the “X Date,” the point at which the United States would exhaust measures to pay its bills, could occur as soon as June 1, and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) stated Monday that a deal must be reached this week to allow Congress enough time to pass the measure before June.