The president also criticized congressional Republicans, saying they needed to “show a little spine” and take up a bipartisan border agreement in the Senate.

“You know and I know it’s the toughest, most efficient, most effective border security bill this country’s ever seen,” Biden said. “So instead of playing politics with the issue, why don’t we just get together and get it done?”

Biden touted the bipartisan border bill as “a win for the American people,” calling it a “truly bipartisan initiative.” He called on the Senate to reconsider the bill, asking senators to “set politics aside” and for House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to put the bill on the floor.

“We need to act,” Biden said, adding that Republicans in Congress needed to “show a little spine.”