President Joe Biden is canceling his upcoming visits to Papua New Guinea and Australia due to the ongoing debt ceiling negotiations in Washington, an administration official told CNN.
Biden will still travel to Japan starting Wednesday as part of what was supposed to be a weeklong trip through the Pacific region.
Earlier Tuesday, National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications John Kirby told reporters that the White House was "reevaluating" the stops to Papua New Guinea and Australia.
"What I can speak to is the G7 and going to Hiroshima. The president is looking forward to that. We are taking a look at the rest of the trip," Kirby told reporters.
The cancellation comes as congressional leaders meet with Biden at the White House to discuss the debt limit. The Treasury Department has warned that the government default could come as early as June 1, and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said a default would trigger a global economic downturn.
