Former U.S. President Donald Trump called on Congressional Republicans to provoke a default by the U.S. federal government unless they secure “huge” government spending cuts from the administration of Democratic successor Joe Biden.

“To congressmen, to senators, I say: if you don’t get huge cuts, you should cause a US default,” the Republican candidate in the 2024 election said during a moderated and aired CNN voter discussion early Thursday morning Greek time .

Democrats and Republicans are at odds over raising the US debt ceiling, a Congressional decision absolutely necessary to ensure that the world’s largest economy can pay its bills, its workers and its creditors.

Mr. Trump made this exhortation believing that a default could be avoided because, as he predicted, the Democrats would “fall back” on the issue.

His successor, Joe Biden, is ruling out any possibility of spending cut talks at this stage and accusing Congressional Republicans of holding the US economy “hostage”.

In the absence of a vote in Congress, the US may be forced to default on June 1.

Unprecedented development, which the White House constantly warns will be disastrous for employment and economic growth, in addition to the destabilization of the world economy that it is supposed to lead to.

In another statement, the former president said that if re-elected, he plans to pardon many of the capitol attackers on January 6, 2021.

In addition, he falsely claimed that during his tenure in the White House (2017-2021) he completed the wall on the border with Mexico.

Source: CNN